Written, directed and animated by Benjamin Pacheco, ‘Is It My Fault’ is a short animation that delves into the mental health of a teenage boy as a consequence of early childhood trauma. The hand-drawn artistry illustrates the roaring anxiety, trepidation and self-condemnation of the central character. Despite the omittance of verbal character dialogue, the narrative is supported through on-screen text as the protagonist attempts to save his childhood self from a metaphorical monster.

Throughout the 13 minute film, which has a potent melancholic tone, the teenage protagonist and his adolescent trauma are steadily unraveled – teasing some form of childhood abuse. The nature of the abuse is tastefully concealed, leaving the narrative open for viewer correlation. The antagonist is depicted as a heinous monster that takes the child prisoner – a crafty act of symbolism to highlight the everlasting effect of victimisation.