Description:

Shipping Container is a short animated documentary based on the real-life memories of McKenzie, a childhood friend of the filmmaker. As a young girl, McKenzie lived with her family in a shipping container on an empty plot of land. With no toilet, no shower, and no electricity, she found humour in the absurdity of everyday life, from peeing outside in the middle of the night to pretending to be a television through a tent window.

Told with warmth and wit, the film captures the way McKenzie shared her stories: full of laughter, honesty, and heart. It uses expressive animation, comedic timing, and a carefully chosen colour palette to reflect the contrast between the harshness of her environment and the lightness of her spirit. Bright yellows and blues represent her optimism, while darker interior scenes show the reality of her living conditions.

The film is both a tribute and a celebration. It honours McKenzie’s ability to find joy in difficult circumstances, and it shares that joy with others. Created as part of a university project, Shipping Container also became a personal milestone for the filmmaker, who used the project to explore visual storytelling, colour theory, and sound design.

At its core, Shipping Container is a story about resilience, friendship, and the power of humour. It reminds us that even in the darkest places, a single candle can light the room, and sometimes, that candle is a person.