Description
The Forevergreen: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released in November 2025, exclusively distributed by Wings Music Group, featuring music composed by the American singer/songwriter Josh Garrels for the movie Forevergreen, an animated short film directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears. The full length motion picture soundtrack was lovingly crafted and produced over the span of several years by Josh Garrels and Isaac Wardell. Orchestrated by Wardell with strings conducted by Trey Pollard. Mixed by David Wilton at Coalesce Audio. Album artwork by Don Clark at Invisible Creatures.
https://www.forevergreenfilm.com/
FOREVERGREEN (Animated Short Film)
“Forevergreen” is a timeless handcrafted 12-minute animated short about an orphaned bear cub who finds a home with a fatherly evergreen tree, until his hunger for trash leads him into danger. The independently made film combines never-before-seen animation techniques along with classic handmade artistry, weaving art and technology together to create a wooden world and characters in a story full of heart and humor.
“Forevergreen” marks the directing debut of two veterans from the world of animation: acclaimed animation supervisor Nathan Engelhardt (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia 1 & 2,” “Big Hero 6,” “Encanto”) and Annie Award-winning story artist Jeremy Spears (“Winnie the Pooh,” “Princess and the Frog,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia 1 & 2,” and “Encanto”).
Forevergreen had its World Premiere at the Animayo Film Festival in Spain, where it garnered two awards: Best 3D award and Best Art Direction. Forevergreen was also selected to compete in the prestigious Annecy Film Festival in France, among other Oscar-qualifying film festivals.
The CG-stylized wooden world of “Forevergreen” was based on Spears’ unique woodcarving aesthetic. The handcrafted wooden world also drew inspiration from classic animated short films of the 1940s and 50s, as well as vintage WPA National Parks posters. Renowned animation production designer Paul Felix (“Big Hero 6,” “Raya and the Last Dragon,” “Lilo & Stitch”) served as visual development artist lead and played a key role in establishing the look of the film.
According to Engelhardt, “The idea for the film was born out of a desire to tell a story with eternal weight and purpose. Jeremy and I wanted to make a film that was both true and timeless; a story about all of us. Our goal was to simultaneously entertain as well as stimulate thoughtful reflection about its deeper meaning. Spears adds, “We set out to tell an allegorical story about hope, redemption and loving one’s enemy. It was informed by the biblical tale of the prodigal son, as well as our own personal journeys with faith in God. We wanted to use Nature as the beautiful backdrop to a story that could resonate with everyone no matter who they are or what they believed.”
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/forevergreen-original-motion-picture-soundtrack/1852871613)
Album tracklist:
01. Opening Theme & Growing Up – 3:11
02. New Discovery & Canyon Crossing – 2:21
03. Fun For A Season – 0:52
04. Forest Fire & Goodbye – 2:22
05. Tree Memorial – 1:07
06. Forevergreen Ending – 2:35
07. Canyon Variation – 1:34
08. Extended Fun! – 2:16
09. Forevergreen (Single Version) – 3:25
10. Forever Strings Variation – 1:25
Note: Available on Bandcamp: https://joshgarrels.bandcamp.com/album/forevergreen-original-motion-picture-soundtrack
Forevergreen, Academy Award – Nominated Animated Short Film
FOREVERGREEN – Official Teaser Trailer
An orphaned bear cub finds a home with a fatherly evergreen tree, until his hunger for trash leads him to danger. ( “Forevergreen” is an animated short film directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears. Featuring never before seen animation techniques and handmade artistry, weaving art and technology together with heart and humor. Winner of BEST 3D and BEST ART DIRECTION at Animayo 2025, Official Selection at Annecy 2025. )
MAKING OF | Forevergreen
Making of: “Forevergreen” (Annecy 2025)
Directed by Nathan Engelhardt & Jeremy Spears, “Forevergreen” is one of the most eagerly awaited short films of the year, first shown in the Young Audiences competition at Annecy 2025, it has already scooped several awards including the CANAL+ Junior Jury Prize🌲✨
This silent yet intensely powerful film tells the story of an orphaned bear cub and the tree that becomes his guide. It’s an allegory about love, forgiveness and redemption.
💎”Forevergreen” is a visual masterpiece. A 3D film like no other: each frame captures the tantalising warmth of hand-carved wood. Thanks to an in-house pipeline combining Maya, Python and dynamic wobble textures, each frame preserves the wood’s natural imperfections, brushstrokes and that handcrafted feel – and yet it’s all entirely computer-generated.
This unique aesthetic is the result of Jeremy Spears’ expertise, a sculptor before being a director, and the passionate work of 200 volunteer artists over a period of… five and a half years. That’s right, five years of evenings, lunch breaks and free time, for a film crafted with faith, patience and an unrelenting love for animation film.
🍃 “Forevergreen” is not only a technical feat, but also a deeply human film. A tale about grace, sacrifice and unconditional love in a world that sorely needs it.
🎬 This Making of is presented as part of our collection in partnership with The Animation Showcase, which brings together films screened at Annecy 2025 and that are now eligible for the Oscar season.
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