John Whitney - Arabesque (1975)

Wonder where computer generated art originated? Well, John Whitney is considered the father of art in this medium. This is essentially trance in its beginnings. Before 1970, he used a computer he crafted himself by converting a WWII M5 antiaircraft gun director.

Michael Sciulli and Melissa White - Quest: A Long Ray's Journey Into Light

I'm not sure if its a yearning for yesteryear, or there really is something to it, but I find computer animation from the 70s to the 90s to be much more pleasing, magical, and overall what I'm looking for in CGI.  This is purely an experimental short showcasing the beautiful and abstract worlds that could be created with the technology available in 1986.

E. Elias Merhige - Begotten

It's not an easy task finding a more obscure, avant-garde picture such as Begotten.  The beginning scene is of God (a bandaged horrifying looking being) disemboweling himself.  Mother earth is birthed through his remains.  The entire film is shot in a high contrast, high grain setting with odd, minimalistic sounds instead of music such as grunts, grinding, and cricket noises which creates an aesthetic that is both disturbing and pleasing.  This is a VERY difficult movie to watch, but its one of those movies that makes a permanent impact on your psyche.

J.G. Quintel - 2 in the AM PM

So, my suspicions are confirmed; the creator of Regular Show is familiar with the delights of LSD and weed. Its funny how the concept of a kids cartoon was conceived from a short about a friend dosing his friend and himself with LSD candy.

Gaspar Noé - Enter the Void

Nowhere will you find a film like Enter the Void.  What you will notice immediately are the incredibly inventive camera angles and beautiful screenshots. Ever wondered if a psychedelic experience and/or the experience of death and experiences after could be depicted in film?  Well... it happened! Most of the film is done in a first person perspective which calls for extremely interesting/mind bending visuals, especially since we see the character trip on DMT through his perspective, then eventually see him die and his spirit (essence) leaving his body. The ideas posed in this movie about death and ascending to another plane are just as mind blowing as the visuals presented throughout the movie.

Alejandro Jodorowsky - The Holy Mountain

This is one of those films that after seeing it, you can’t unsee it. In fact, it feels wrong calling it a film; its more of an experience than anything. Its laden of psychedelic visuals, spiritual symbolism, and imagery done in a truly avant-garde manor. 

Jan Svankmajer - The Trick

Czech avant-garde stop motion short film.  A truly surreal short film made up of stimulating/dizzying visuals which noticeably progress with each trick.

David Lynch - The Grandmother

Another David Lynch short film.  This one I think I can call my favorite.  It’s longer in length compared to his other shorts, and the use of sound and dark/light contrast is fucking lovely.

David Lynch - The Alphabet

David Lynch films have this perfect formula of being disturbing, beautiful, and surreal causing a dream-like state while immersed in his movies. This is one of his first shorts which was made before Eraserhead. ENJOYYYYYYY