The Bats is a 1999 American short animated film written and directed by Jim Trainor, who also narrates the film alongside Marianne McGinnis. Hand-drawn by Trainor with felt-tip pens, the film follows the life of a bat who resides in a cave near a Mayan temple. He is raised by his mother, learns to use echolocation, and embarks on a journey of sexual and metaphysical discovery before ultimately completing his life cycle.
The Bats won an Honorable Mention in the Sundance Film Festival's Short Filmmaking category in 2000.