Ok, so this does rather play to stereotype as it imbues half a dozen critters with issues more readily attributed to human beings. Sitting in a circle, they talk politely to “Dr. Clement” about their problems and then an ape arrives in the room and the writing steps up a gear into something I found quite funny. It’s about suppressing, or not, our instinctual behaviour and/or always trying to intellectualise what is innate - like a dog fetching a bone, and I found the scenario engagingly peppered with in-your-face irony. The style of the animation is a little linear, but once the story livens up and the characters take shape, it manages to portray creatures and their foibles warts and all. As the big guy says: “stop naval gazing and get on with your lives”. I liked this.

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Animal Behaviour
"It's not always easy to deal with what comes naturally."
2018 • 0h 14m • ★ 6.4 (91 votes) Released
Five animals meet regularly to discuss their inner angst in a group therapy session led by Dr. Clement, a canine psychotherapist. The group includes Lorraine, a leech who suffers from separation anxiety; Cheryl, a praying mantis who can’t seem to keep a man; Todd, a pig with an eating disorder; Jeffrey, a bird with guilt issues; and Linda, an obsessive-compulsive cat.
Director
David Fine
Writer
David Fine
Writer
Alison Snowden
Rating
6.4
Runtime
14 min
Production
ONF | NFBTop Billed Cast
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Audience Reviews
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CinemaSerf
★ 7/10 • Feb 14, 2026
Keywords
short film




