Take Five: Top Sites for Short Videos

Here are five favorite sites for finding short visual pleasure:

1) Motionographer, run by editor Justin Cone, is a terrific compendium of current short-form motion graphics and animation. The site features notes on recently crafted ads that are particularly inventive, news about filmmakers and designers, and longer pieces, including interviews and profiles. Check out the nice interview with Shynola's Chris Harding about the video for Coldplay's "Strawberry Swing," put together by contributors Lillian Darmono and James Wignall.

2) Ubuweb Film and Video offers unprecedented access to avant-garde moving image art. Yes, it's problematic that films shot on film are not projected, but as a reference for works that are incredibly difficult to see projected, Ubuweb is unbeatable. I just watched Hollis Frampton's 1971 wonder, nostalgia. Incredible.

3) Artforum Video is Artforum magazine's impressive collection of videos, including video art, documentation, interviews and overviews. You'll find classics, such as Richard Serra's 1973 Television Delivers People, as well as an eclectic mix of other treats.

4) The Submarine Channel features frequently updated pointers to interesting shorts and motion graphics, and includes the wonderful collection of more than 100 film title design examples (under "Forget the Film, Watch the Titles"). There is also a compilation of interviews with assorted artists under "Pretty Cool People Interviews," including Tommy Pallotta and Miranda July.

5) Short of the Week, edited by Andrew S. Allen and Jason Sondhi, chronicles the rich world of shorts, with - appropriately - short descriptions and notes. I found Cameraman here; it's an episode from This American Life illustrated with a short animation by graphic novelist Chris Ware. Check back frequently...

Image: Artforum Video interface.