When Nina Paley's playfully cosmic feature "Sita Sings the Blues" premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2008, its crowd-pleasing potential became immediately obvious.

Paley, a New York-based cartoonist, toiled over the Flash-animated movie for years on her personal laptop, and the results of her painstaking effort showed in its deeply personal, handcrafted spirit.

The 2008 presidential election held all the thrill of a classic Hollywood narrative, from the rise of its underdog hero to the unified support he received around the world.

Fireworks erupted as Barack Obama launched his campaign as the Democratic candidate and confetti fell when he sealed the deal. Music and good cheer filled the air. His grand oration provided the ideal antidote to eight years of a confused and ineloquent administration.

The hero rode off into the sunset and entered the Oval Office.