Caitlin McCarthy's 'Full Set' animates nail art body horror
London-based animator Caitlin McCarthy, known for her bubblegum body-horror style, has released a new short film titled 'Full Set' that explores the painful side of cosmetic perfection. The film follows a woman who progressively cooks her arm while trying to achieve the perfect manicure, inspired by the 'heat spikes' from chemical reactions between UV light and nail polish. McCarthy cites Japanese gore films like 'Tokyo Gore Police' and her own resentment toward nail care as influences. The animation is part of her broader work that balances cutesy aesthetics with grotesque themes, including earlier pieces featuring women eating bugs on kitchen floors and miniature dentists in mouths. 'Full Set' premiered in 2026 and is available on McCarthy's website and Instagram.
Key facts
- Caitlin McCarthy is a London-based animator.
- Her new short film is titled 'Full Set'.
- The film depicts a woman cooking her arm while getting nails done.
- It was inspired by 'heat spikes' from UV nail polish curing.
- McCarthy cites 'Tokyo Gore Police' as an inspiration.
- She describes her work as balancing cutesy and grotesque themes.
- The film was released in 2026.
- McCarthy works in commercials but creates personal animations.
Entities
Artists
- Caitlin McCarthy
Institutions
- It's Nice That
- Sanrio
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom