The Dog in the Long Grass

The Dog in the Long Grass | Trailer

Haunted by a glimpse of Death in the form of a black dog, a man embarks on a desperate search across the Sussex landscape to ask a single, unanswered question.

Director’s Statement

‘The Dog in the Long Grass' is a deeply personal exploration of the landscapes and folklore that have shaped my own storytelling, while grappling with universal questions about life and mortality. The film is a fully animated work that blends the real and the mythical, using the power of the medium to craft a world where a folkloric legend becomes a metaphor for a man’s internal journey.

I've always been drawn to the relationship between Sussex's dramatic natural beauty and British folklore. The region, which is under-represented in animation, is home to many legends, including that of the Padfoot, a spectral black dog said to be an omen of death or misfortune. By setting the film against the backdrop of iconic Sussex locations, I aimed to use the landscape as a central character, celebrating its unique identity and bringing an authentic sense of place to the screen.

The true core of the film, however, is a deeply personal and metaphorical exploration of mental health from a male perspective. While the surface-level story is accessible to all ages, the Padfoot's portrayal is not a stereotypical representation of death as a terrifying force, but rather a complex embodiment of our main character’s mental state. This non-stereotypical and authentic portrayal of a man’s emotional journey encourages a softer, more reflective approach to life.

This film marks my debut into fully animated filmmaking, a journey that has allowed me to discover new ways of telling stories and to deepen my understanding of the landscapes and legends that have always inspired me. By embracing animation and fantasy, 'The Dog in the Long Grass' offers a new and compassionate perspective on a subject that is often portrayed in a heavy or two-dimensional way in media.

Director Biography - Seb Cox

Sussex-based filmmaker Seb Cox blends animation and live-action to explore the integration of myth and reality. After a career in live-action and visual effects, Seb transitioned to illustrated animation, seeking to expand his storytelling horizons.

His debut feature, 'Are We Monsters,' premiered at FrightFest, and was the animator for the internationally recognised 'Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey' films. Currently in production on his second feature, 'You Just Lost The Game,' a hybrid of animation and live-action, Seb has also returned to his roots with his debut fully animated short film, 'The Dog in the Long Grass.'

Seb's approach to animation is deeply informed by his background in physics, allowing him to create movements that are both fluid and grounded in a sense of naturalism. He seeks to use animation to bring folklore and personal narratives to life, inviting audiences to explore the hidden depths of the world around them.