The Great Fall

In a soft, cloudbound world a tiny, anxious raindrop watches the sky darken and worries about the moment he will fall. He sees other drops detach without fanfare and imagines every possible danger in the space below. The approaching storm makes every sound louder, and small tremors in the cloud feel like answers. There is no dialogue; the film relies on images and sound to show his racing thoughts, his flinches, and the small, curious pauses when he notices beauty in the cloud. The story keeps its focus on his fear of the fall, presenting the experience from his narrow perspective while avoiding any revelations about what awaits on the ground. Mood is intimate, quietly humorous, and gently tense throughout.

The Great Fall was released in 2015 as an animated short, directed by Gary O'Neill and created by Benjamin Cleary. The film is a brief visual piece, produced for festivals and short film programs rather than mainstream theatrical distribution worldwide.

As a short animation it did not have a wide theatrical run, and there are no reliable box office figures available. The Great Fall appears to have seen most of its screenings at shorts programs and showings, not commercial release.

Critical response is minimal, with few published reviews and very limited audience ratings recorded online. The film foregrounds anxiety about change, the small scale of individual fear, and acceptance of natural processes. Its sparse sound design and expressive animation emphasize mood and inner thought over plot or dialogue, and silence.

While The Great Fall has not become widely known, its central image of a lone drop confronting descent is striking in its simplicity. The short can prompt conversations about fear and resilience in classroom or family settings, and its approachable visuals suit younger viewers alongside adults who appreciate quiet animation.