A young girl struggles to find her identity in Ana Gusson and Robyn Campbell’s animated short, Pivot. On this particular morning, it’s a struggle of wills between a loving mother and her 12-year-old daughter, Ashley. At conflict is the dress Ashley will wear for the day. Mother has chosen a gaudy pink party dress, while Ashley wants to wear something more suited to her personality.
Having nothing of it, Mother insists that she put on the dress and walks away. Ashley is now left to stew in her anger and frustration, dreaming of escaping this impossible situation.

“Mother has chosen a gaudy pink party dress, while Ashley wants to wear something more suited to her…”
Pivot is a beautifully animated tale of the struggle many pre-teens and parents face as childhood slowly fades in the rearview mirror. For parents, it’s letting go of the child that once emulated your every move, and for a child, it’s finding the freedom to establish identity, look, and style. The short gives one practical piece of parenting advice and its empathy…seeing the situation through the other’s eyes.
Our tale is set in Ashley’s very pink bedroom. The art style is reminiscent of the children’s books of old—large shapes with rough lines. It’s computer-animated using CG puppets. The character movements feel much more natural than I’m used to seeing with this technology. It wonderfully captures the feelings and inner turmoil most children feel when seemingly small choices are made for them.
As a parent who recently had to repaint my daughter’s pink bedroom, I can relate to the struggle in Pivot as I’ve been caught in the middle of a parent slowly letting go and a child looking to sprout her wings. It’s a reminder that life moves way too fast for parents.