The Rodent Jazz

"The Rodent Jazz" is a witty, scientifically-inspired animated short film based on a real 2011 study featured in Classic FM and other media outlets. The film explores the unlikely relationship between laboratory rats, classical music, jazz, and cocaine. Set in an Albany Medical College lab, the story follows researchers conducting an unusual experiment to determine whether rats have musical preferences.

When Beethoven fails to impress the discerning rodents, the scientists introduce Miles Davis' jazz—with mixed results. The experiment takes an unexpected turn when cocaine enters the equation, transforming the indifferent rats into passionate jazz enthusiasts. Most remarkably, long after the drug's effects wear off, the rats retain their newfound appreciation for jazz.

Beyond its humorous premise, the film delves into deeper implications about addiction, neuroplasticity, and the therapeutic potential of music. Through charming animation and engaging narration, "The Rodent Jazz" transforms a seemingly absurd experiment into a thought-provoking commentary on how our brains—rat or human—form attachments and how music might someday play a role in addiction treatment.

The film has been selected as a finalist in the OMNI: AI Film Festival in Sydney, Australia, recognizing its innovative approach to AI-assisted filmmaking.

AI Integration

"The Rodent Jazz" represents a comprehensive exploration of AI-assisted filmmaking techniques. The creative process began by feeding the original Classic FM article to ChatGPT to develop the screenplay. Google Gemini 2.5 was then utilized to assist with storyboard development, with LTX Studio generated initial storyboard mockups.

The visual aesthetics were achieved through ComfyUI, which generated all necessary images, with KlingAI transforming these static visuals into dynamic video clips. Select scenes were created using SORA technology. The film's distinctive narration was generated using ZONOS, a leading open-weight text-to-speech model, while the original jazz musical tracks were composed using Udio.

The soundscape was completed with carefully selected practical sound effects including mice squeaking, ambient laboratory noises, clocks, cello, crowds, vinyl record sounds, and Beethoven's 5th Symphony, creating an immersive audio experience that complements the AI-generated visuals and narration.