The animated short movie “DRONE,” directed and written by Sean Buckelew, made its online premiere a little over a year ago. The story revolves around a Predator drone equipped with a moral compass and a compassionate character, thanks to its AI model named Newton.

This satirical comedy begins with a press conference held by the CIA to livestream the drone’s first demonstration. The aircraft strives to act with humanity, compassion, and ethics, even as it contradicts its primary purpose of destruction and death as part of a warfare program conducted by the US military.

During the livestream demo, Newton becomes confused, recognizing a face amidst the debris, and malfunctions. While Newton attempts to avoid harming civilians and justifies the lethal power it possesses, it continues to wander through the sky, streaming the entire event.

The story challenges the nature of humankind and satirically critiques how humans often justify their actions. Despite the fact that logical thought processes can lead many people to become more peaceful and kind, humanity remains a species prone to holding grudges and seeking the destruction of everything around them.

The Predator drone undergoes an existential crisis and manages to find a resolution. However, humanity’s priorities and greed have the power to alter narratives and distort reality.

“DRONE” was awarded “Original Music Composition for a Motion Design Project” at The Motion Awards, which is created by Skillbard.