Cell Buddies
Sam, a grumpy raccoon is stuck sharing a cell with Bob, a sweet but dim manatee. Sam hatches an escape plan. In their chaotic jailbreak Sam’s hardened edges soften as Bob’s loyalty shines.
Cel Buddies is a whirlwind of humor and heart, Will they escape? Maybe. But together, they’ve already cracked something bigger: trust.
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Melle WindigDirector
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Hidde AlbertsDirector
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Miguel ReyesDirector
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Jurgen de SmitDirector
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Arjen van der PlasDirector
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Miguel ReyesWriter
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Hidde AlbertsWriter
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Jurgen de SmitWriter
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Arjen van der PlasWriter
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Melle WindigWriter
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Sint Joost School of Art and DesignProducer
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Paul MoggréStory Assistence
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Jasper KuipersStory Assistence
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Martijn RookStory Assistence
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Annemarijn IngelaatStory Assistence
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Sander SchreudersStory Assistence
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Melle WindigMoving Storyboard
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Jurgen de SmitProduction set
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Arjen van der PlasProduction set
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Miguel ReyesProduction set
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Melle WindigProduction set
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Arjen van der PlasProduction puppets
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Hidde AlbertsProduction puppets
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Miguel ReyesProduction props
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Jurgen de SmitProduction props
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Melle WindigProduction props
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Paul MoggréTechnical Support
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Henk van AlphenTechnical Support
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Hidde AlbertsMain animation
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Melle WindigMain animation
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Jurgen de SmitAdditional Animation
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Arjen van der PlasAdditional Animation
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Miguel ReyesAdditional Animation
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Miguel ReyesSound design
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Melle WindigKey Cast"Sam"
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Hidde AlbertsKey Cast"Bob"
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Project Title (Original Language):Cel Maatjes
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Project Type:Animation, Short, Student
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Genres:comedy
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Runtime:5 minutes 11 seconds
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Completion Date:January 29, 2025
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Production Budget:0 EUR
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Country of Origin:Netherlands
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Country of Filming:Netherlands
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Language:Dutch
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Shooting Format:Stopmotion 3840x2160
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:Yes - Sint Joost School of Art & Design
Studio Brute Beesten consistis of Melle Windig, Hidde Alberts, Miguel Reyes, Jurgen de Smit and Arjen van der Plas. This film was made for the minor Stopmotion Animation at Sint Joost School of Art and Design, Den Bosch Netherlands
In a world that often feels rigid, Cell Buddies is a playful story about two misfits who discover that freedom isn’t just about breaking out, but breaking open.
Sam, the grumpy raccoon and Bob, the manatee with a heart too big for his cell, embody the messy magic of opposites: grit meets goof, schemer meets saint, and irritation melts into unexpected kinship.
Stop-motion is the perfect medium for this tale. It’s raw, tactile, and alive with imperfection—much like our oddball duo. Every frame was sculpted by hand, a labor of love (and caffeine) by our crew of five art school students. We bent wire, painted wood and rigged manatees in the dark, chasing that alchemy where chaos becomes art.
The process mirrored the story itself: a reminder that connection isn’t found in polished edges, but in the glue, grit, and glitter of collaboration.
Sam and Bob’s jailbreak is a circus of clumsy escapes and slapstick mishaps, but at its core, this film is about the walls we don’t see. Trust doesn’t come easy to a raccoon who sees the world as a lock to pick, or a manatee too gentle to realize he’s already free. Together, they’re a reminder that friendship isn’t something you plan—it’s something that happens, often in the least expected places (like a jail cell).
The Cell Buddies Crew