Cell Buddies

Storyline

Sam, a grumpy raccoon is stuck sharing a cell with Bob, a sweet but dim manatee. Sam hatches an escape plan. In their chaotic jailbreak Sam’s hardened edges soften as Bob’s loyalty shines.
Will they escape? Maybe. But together, they’ve already cracked something bigger: trust.

About the film/director

Studio Brute Beesten consists of Melle Windig, Hidde Alberts, Miguel Reyes, Jurgen de Smit and Arjen van der Plas. This film was made for the 3rd year minor Stopmotion Animation at Sint Joost School of Art and Design, Den Bosch Netherlands

Melle Windig
I am a 20 year old Bachelor student Illustrated and Animated Storytelling at Sint Joost School of Art and Design Den Bosch. I like a challenge, I am very willing to spend 13 hours behind my computer for 5 seconds of animation, and that I do for myself. But if those 5 seconds can have a impact on someone I know I made something worthwhile.

Hidde Alberts
"If I didn't have to hit Ctrl+Z at least 50 times, animating would be too easy." I am 21 years old and a complete animation freak. I study Multimedia Design at the HU in Utrecht. Whether it's 2D, 3D or stop motion, I'm there! As an animator, I do everything I can to make my animations as smooth as possible, even if that means animating at 24 fps. I love animating complex shots and deliberately include them in my work. The more complex the movement, the more I enjoy it.

Jurgen de Smit
I am a 23-year-old Bachelor Design student at the St. Joost School of Art and Design. I am passionate about a wide range of topics and techniques, with a particular interest in stop-motion animation. For me, the most important part of any project is to have fun—it's through enjoyment that the best work emerges. During the making of 'Celmaatjes', I primarily focused on the story and set design. Looking ahead, I am eager to participate in many more projects as fun and fulfilling as this one.

Miguel Reyes
I am a 23 years old and a student Illustrated and Animated Storytelling at Sint Joost School of Art and Design. I love making funny and goofy animations and illustrations. My goal is simple, if I can make someone smile, laugh or happy, my project has succeeded. Humor and silliness is key in my work and I am mostly focused on short 2d animations that are simplistic and straight to the point, but I also like illustrating and other forms of animation such as stopmotion. This world is way too beautiful to be boring, so if i can brighten it up a little, why not right.

Arjen van der Plas.
I am a 26-year-old Design student at HKU in Utrecht.
I enjoy adding flavor to serious topics and bringing a sense of wonder to the everyday. Working on “Celmaatjes”, the movie, made me happy because it proves that even something as seemingly mundane as a prison break can surprise the viewer.
For this project, I primarily focused on set and character design. In the future, I would love to continue designing and creating unique, imaginative sets and characters — and helping bring stories to life.

Director’s statement

In a world that often feels dark and rigid, Cell Buddies is a playful story about two misfits who discover that freedom isn’t just about breaking out, but breaking open.

Sam, the grumpy raccoon and Bob, the manatee with a heart too big for his cell, embody the messy magic of opposites: grit meets goof, schemer meets saint, and irritation melts into unexpected kinship.

Stop-motion is the perfect medium for this tale. It’s raw, tactile, and alive with imperfection—much like our oddball duo. Every frame was sculpted by hand, a labor of love (and caffeine) by our crew of five art school students. We bent wire, painted wood and rigged manatees in the dark, chasing that alchemy where chaos becomes art.

The process mirrored the story itself: a reminder that connection isn’t found in polished edges, but in the glue, grit, and glitter of collaboration.

Sam and Bob’s jailbreak is a circus of clumsy escapes and slapstick mishaps, but at its core, this film is about the walls we don’t see. Trust doesn’t come easy to a raccoon who sees the world as a lock to pick, or a manatee too gentle to realize he’s already free. Together, they’re a reminder that friendship isn’t something you plan—it’s something that happens, often in the least expected places.

The Cell Buddies Crew

Credits

Director:

Arjen van der Plas, Hidde Alberts, Jurgen de Smit, Melle Windig, Miguel Reyes

Cast:

Hidde Alberts, Melle Windig

Production:

Sint Joost School of Art and Design

Contact:

Melle Windig

E-Mail:

celmaatjesmovie@gmail.com

• Netherlands

• Dutch, Narrated in German
• 2025
• 5 min