Carrots Don't Wait

Carrots Don't Wait is a 2023 animated short film created by Lina Machida as her graduation project at Tokyo University of the Arts. The story centers on a young girl and her deep affection for a stray dog she has come to love. For a long time, this wandering animal has harbored a quiet but persistent desire for an apple. Meanwhile, a surreal threat looms in the background as carrots actively attempt to transform their entire surroundings into a sprawling seedbed, reshaping the world around them. Recognizing that decay is ultimately inevitable, the girl makes a decisive choice. She opens a mysterious box and departs alongside her beloved dog, leaving the transforming landscape behind. Their departure serves as a poignant response to the unavoidable cycle of deterioration encroaching upon their lives. Through striking visual storytelling, the animation beautifully captures a fleeting yet profound moment where birth and death overlap, intertwining themes of longing, transformation, and acceptance into a singular artistic vision.