Los Angeles-based comedian, TV writer, director and Emmy-nominated producer Joseph “Joey” Clift debuted his latest animated film, “Pow!” at the Athens International Film + Video Festival on April 12.
The 8-minute animated comedy short film stars Jake (Rainy Fields), a young Native American boy who scrambles to charge his video game console while learning that finding your method to love your community is up to you. Viewers are also introduced to his excitable Dad (Jim Ruel) and his wise Grandmother (Angela Startz) as Jake learns he can love powwows in his way.
As an enrolled member of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, Clift used his experience to create an authentic and unique story:
“Pow! is a love letter to my time spent as a bored Native kid, often dragged by my mom to powwows in tribal centers on the Tulalip Indian Reservation, where instead of powwow dancing, I mostly searched for places to charge my Game Boy,” Clift wrote in an email. “Through that process, I learned that loving video games and loving your culture don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”
“Pow!” is masterfully crafted at paying homage to the Indigenous cultures that inspired the short film and humanizing a demographic commonly misrepresented in media.
Although attention has been put on the misrepresentation and reinforcement of harmful portrayals of Indigenous identities, there is very little representation for them.
The film includes numerous cultural nods thanks to its largely Indigenous Emmy and Annie Award-winning team of creatives. Numerous art styles aid in the nostalgic feeling permeating through the film, adding cultural and contextual details to further the understanding of the character’s communal background.
The 16-bit pixel art style, common in Super Nintendo games of the ‘90s, is used to show Jake’s deeply ingrained love for video games. The short film’s intro pays homage to many role-playing games like “Animal Crossing” and “Super Mario.”
Ledger Art was created in the late 1880s by Plains Indians due to natives having access to discarded ledger books provided by government agents and traders. Many tribes used pictorial methods to preserve their community’s oral history. Ledger art, often painted over the notes left on the discarded ledgers, depicted war, warriors, everyday life, celebration and a record of important cultural events.
It is very easy to connect to “Pow!” as millennials and Generatio Z have been the kids stuck to a game, book, phone or some other electronic device in a large community or familial gathering. Jake is extremely relatable, especially to introverts. Not knowing how to fit in or how your interests coincide with the social norms of such spaces can be a very isolating and grumpy experience.
Viewers see Jake’s battle with adolescence in a way most people can truly understand. He searches for comfort in the shape of something or someone he can look toward to keep him grounded in unfamiliar or overstimulating spaces. However, it is important to remember why and how those spaces exist, a point that was made by the end of the short film.
The film emphasizes an appreciation of ancestors who created shared spaces readily available to comfort someone. “Pow!” also emphasizes the love of a culture that was fought for by preceding generations.
“Pow!” brings laughter, warmth, nostalgia, bittersweet understanding and hopefulness to the entertainment world. Jake’s story gives the audience a youthfully captivating experience, offering anyone who has scrambled for a charger or an outlet the rush that comes with the “low battery” notification.
Clift’s work not only entertains but also educates and uplifts, highlighting the importance of nuanced representation in mainstream media. “Pow!” stands out for its heartfelt storytelling, cultural specificity and clever use of humor to explore themes of identity, family and belonging.
With vibrant animation, a heartfelt script and multidimensional characters, the film showcases the power of Indigenous storytelling in modern formats. It is a refreshing and much-needed shift from stereotypical portrayals, offering young Native American audiences a chance to see themselves reflected on-screen.
“Pow!” is more than a film. It is a cultural celebration wrapped in pixelated joy and animated charm.
