Paperman

"Destiny is the bridge you build, to the one you love."

2012 0h 7m EN

🙌

8.0

BANGER

⭐

8.2

IMDB

★8.0TMDB · 1,845★8.2IMDB · 36,403

AnimationFamilyRomanceComedyFantasy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

An urban office worker finds that paper airplanes are instrumental in meeting a girl in ways he never expected.

“Destiny is the bridge you build, to the one you love.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

John Kahrs
George (voice)
Kari Wahlgren
Meg (voice)
Jeff Turley
Boss (voice) (uncredited)
Jack Goldenberg
Finster (voice) (uncredited)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Kahrs
Writers: Clio Chiang, Kendelle Hoyer
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 7-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 14 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Christophe Beck. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Lisa Linder shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

John Kahrs and Kari Wahlgren and Jeff Turley carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Destiny is the bridge you build, to the one you love.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt2388725 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Kahrs directs. Christophe Beck scores. Lisa Linder cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 7-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Released 14 years ago.
3Original score by Christophe Beck. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Lisa Linder shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5John Kahrs and Kari Wahlgren and Jeff Turley carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Destiny is the bridge you build, to the one you love.".
7IMDB entry: tt2388725 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Original score: Christophe Beck
Editing: Lisa Linder
VFX supervisor: Kyle Odermatt
Sound: Laurent Kossayan
Runtime: 7 min · 0h 7m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): G
IMDB: Paperman (2012)
IMDB rating: 8.2/10 · 36,403 votes
MPAA: G

Awards

Won 1 Oscar. 3 wins & 2 nominations total

Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film
Annie Award

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

John Kahrs

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

tmdb654497022015-11-21
★ 9/10
A beautiful encouraging love story.
CinemaSerf2026-05-29
★ 7/10
Did anyone else think the girl in this animation was the spitting image of "Lady" from "Lady in the Tramp" (1955)? Maybe it was just me? Anyway, this is quite an engaging tale about a young man who has espied a lady on his morning subway journey and then serendipity takes an helping hand and he spots her again through the open window of a nearby office building. He is too shy to approach her directly so how to communicate? Well how about sending messages to her via paper aeroplanes SWALK? Naturally, the thermals don't always play along and so many of his missives end up in some of the wrong places, or get blown adrift and in the end it might be that this poor lad is going to have his love unrequited - unless...! I really quite enjoyed the simplicity of this and the gentle way in which the story progresses without us really knowing what might happen next, and with a certain sense of unfinished business at the conclusion too. Might there even be a sequel?