Domhnall Gleeson Lends Voice to Oscar-Nominated Animated Short "Retirement Plan"

The actor discusses bringing the film's protagonist to life and how the poignant story resonates across generations.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Domhnall Gleeson was quickly drawn to the animated short film "Retirement Plan" after being sent the music and script by director John Kelly. Gleeson provided the voice for the film's protagonist, Ray, who ruminates on his future life and mortality. The film has received critical acclaim, including Oscar nominations, for its universal themes that resonate with audiences of all ages. Gleeson and Kelly discuss the film's ability to offer "solace" around the difficult topic of death and aging.

Why it matters

"Retirement Plan" has struck a chord with audiences for its honest and relatable exploration of the anxieties and uncertainties that come with aging and the future. The film's Oscar nomination brings wider visibility to the short and the creative team behind it.

The details

Gleeson was immediately drawn to the "strong identity" and poignant tone of "Retirement Plan" when director John Kelly sent him the script and music. The animated short follows the protagonist Ray as he ruminates on his future retirement plans, including growing vegetables, haunting an old nemesis, and contemplating his own mortality. The film has received multiple festival awards, including the Grand Jury and Audience Awards at SXSW, for its ability to resonate with viewers at different stages of life.

  • The film received Oscar nominations in the Best Animated Short category.
  • "Retirement Plan" previously won the Grand Jury Award and Audience Award at SXSW earlier this year.
  • The film also took home the Best of Fest award from the Palm Springs International ShortFest and the Comedy Award from the Indy Shorts International Film Festival.

The players

Domhnall Gleeson

An Irish actor who provided the voice for the protagonist Ray in the animated short "Retirement Plan".

John Kelly

The writer and director of the Oscar-nominated animated short "Retirement Plan".

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What they’re saying

“It had such a strong identity, it knew itself so well. It really struck a chord, and has ended up being one of the things I'm proudest of from the last few years, because it's exactly what it needs to be and speaks to a lot of people.”

— Domhnall Gleeson (Deadline)

“It is a bit of a Rorschach test based on where you are in your own life. We wanted to be deliberately neutral with that sound base and artistic style, and it can go in different directions depending on your own mood.”

— John Kelly, Writer and Director (Deadline)

“It's one of those mad pieces of art that is genuinely universal. Everybody worries in some way about the future, and so it resonates with people who are young and starting out and have no idea where their lives are headed, and with middle-aged people like me who are sort of at the midpoint and you don't know what's ahead, and you don't know what you make of what's behind. And then older people, I think, really see themselves in it too.”

— Domhnall Gleeson (Deadline)

What’s next

Kelly is already working on his next project, an animated documentary about the time he woke up with a giant rat on his chest.

The takeaway

"Retirement Plan" has struck a universal chord by honestly and poignantly exploring the anxieties and uncertainties of aging and mortality, resonating with audiences at all stages of life and earning critical acclaim, including an Oscar nomination.