Luki & The Lights has qualified to be considered for the 2025 Oscars, it is directed by Toby Cochran.

LUKI is a lively, energetic robot, living his best life, but when his arm starts to malfunction during a soccer game he is faced with a life-altering diagnosis.

LUKI & THE LIGHTS is a bittersweet animated short from director Toby Cochran, inspired by the true-life story of Sascha Groen and her husband Anjo Snijders who was diagnosed with ALS. On the face of it, the film may sound heavy, especially for children, but the story here is handled delicately and thoughtfully in a way that even youngsters can understand and enjoy.

LUKI and his friends are vibrant characters with colourful personalities – there’s no dialogue, but there’s no need for it as the robots are so wonderfully expressive and simple to understand. Outside its earnest messaging, there is also plenty of room for action and humour as LUKI shows determination to make the most of his life despite its condition.

The quality of the animation is enchanting and could easily be mistaken for an animated short from one of the major studios. 

LUKI & THE LIGHTS is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, with a beautiful message about making the most of the little things when faced with adversity. With numerous accolades already to its name, its sure to be competing for the grand prize come Oscar time.