Private Project

The Dog in the Long Grass

Haunted by a glimpse of Death in the form of a black dog, a man embarks on a desperate search across the Sussex landscape, determined to ask them a life-changing question.

  • Seb Cox
    Director
    Are We Monsters, Sea Side, Tide of Ghosts
  • Seb Cox
    Writer
    Are We Monsters, Sea Side, Tide of Ghosts
  • Seb Cox
    Producer
    Are We Monsters, Sea Side, Tide of Ghosts
  • Seb Cox
    Key Cast
  • Andrew Sitkov
    Music
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Adventure, Fantasy, Folklore
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 19, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Manchester Animation Festival
    Manchester
    United Kingdom
    November 9, 2025
  • Aesthetica Short Film Festival
    York
    United Kingdom
    November 5, 2025
    York
    Selection
  • Brighton Rocks International Film Festival
    Brighton
    United Kingdom
    June 22, 2025
    Brighton
    Best Animation Award
  • London International Animation Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    November 28, 2025
    Official Selection - Top 12 UK Made 2025
  • Norwich Film Festival
    Norwich
    United Kingdom
    November 9, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Greenwich Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    September 19, 2025
    London
    Selection
  • Made in Sussex
    Lewes
    United Kingdom
    April 25, 2025
    World Premiere
    Creativity Award
  • Big Fridge International Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    September 6, 2025
    London
    Finalist
Director Biography - Seb Cox

Sussex-based filmmaker Seb Cox blends animation and live-action to explore the integration of myth and reality. After a career in live-action and visual effects, Seb transitioned to illustrated animation, seeking to expand his storytelling horizons.

His debut feature, 'Are We Monsters,' premiered at FrightFest, and was the animator for the internationally recognised 'Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey' films. Currently in production on his second feature, 'You Just Lost The Game,' a hybrid of animation and live-action, Seb has also returned to his roots with his debut fully animated short film, 'The Dog in the Long Grass.'

Seb's approach to animation is deeply informed by his background in physics, allowing him to create movements that are both fluid and grounded in a sense of naturalism. He seeks to use animation to bring folklore and personal narratives to life, inviting audiences to explore the hidden depths of the world around them.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

‘The Dog in the Long Grass' is a deeply personal exploration of the landscapes and folklore that have shaped my own storytelling, while grappling with universal questions about life and mortality. The film is a fully animated work that blends the real and the mythical, using the power of the medium to craft a world where a folkloric legend becomes a metaphor for a man’s internal journey.

I've always been drawn to the relationship between Sussex's dramatic natural beauty and British folklore. The region, which is under-represented in animation, is home to many legends, including that of the Padfoot, a spectral black dog said to be an omen of death or misfortune. By setting the film against the backdrop of iconic Sussex locations, I aimed to use the landscape as a central character, celebrating its unique identity and bringing an authentic sense of place to the screen.

The true core of the film, however, is a deeply personal and metaphorical exploration of mental health from a male perspective. While the surface-level story is accessible to all ages, the Padfoot's portrayal is not a stereotypical representation of death as a terrifying force, but rather a complex embodiment of the main character’s mental state. This non-stereotypical and authentic portrayal of a man’s emotional journey encourages a softer, more reflective approach to life.

This film marks my debut into fully animated filmmaking, a journey that has allowed me to discover new ways of telling stories and to deepen my understanding of the landscapes and legends that have always inspired me. By embracing animation and fantasy, 'The Dog in the Long Grass' offers a new and compassionate perspective on a subject that is often portrayed in a heavy or two-dimensional way in media.

THE FILM’S METAPHORICAL MESSAGING
- The Cost of Obsession: How a singular, relentless focus on a goal can lead us to neglect our own wellbeing and treat ourselves, and those around us, with a lack of compassion.
- The Void of Achievement: The specific mental health challenge of reaching a long-sought goal, only to be met with an absence of satisfaction and a subsequent loss of identity.
- Mindset Adaptation: The journey from a place of internal burnout and subtle suicidal ideation toward a revelation of mindset, learning to find beauty in life’s journey rather than just the finish line.