This animated whale swims in an azure sea constructed from broken car window glass and an old plastic floaty toy. Emily Dodge

If you're tired of Pixar, Claymation, and Happy Feet's animated penguins, take a look at StartMotions. Based in Fall River, Massachusetts, this studio grew out of a nine-minute film -- animator Emily Dodge's senior degree project at Rhode Island School of Design. The piece, "Two by Two," features two small, furry animals seeking refuge from an epic flood. What makes Dodge's work so distinctive: Her creatures are made from mainly nonbiodegradable trash. This animated whale, for instance, swims in an azure sea constructed from broken car window glass and an old plastic floaty toy.