Rescue Party is an homage to the golden age of science fiction, a love letter to stories that inspired the short's creators. The crew of Studio 208 Animation have put their blood, sweat, and tears into the creation of this story and in the development of its unique artistic style.

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Rescue Party is a re-imagining and interpretation of Arthur C. Clarke's first published short story of the same name. In an attempt to save the human race, the crew of the S9000 arrive to Earth hours before the sun supernovas. Upon arrival, the aliens discover that the planet is all evacuated except  for one little girl. Two members of the alien crew transport to the surface and return her to her people waiting safely on the edge of the solar system.

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Given that the original story was written in 1946, a deliberate attempt was made to make Rescue Party feel as if it was created in the art-deco era. As the art direction process took off, the crew of Studio 208 Animation saw an opportunity to give a visual nod to the contrasting themes and views of science fiction between the golden era and the present. Thus, the art of Rescue Party blended the past and present of science fiction together. This desire to blend artistic styles proved to be a daunting challenge. The short was visually split up into two visual themes, the unknown brings opportunity and the unknown is something to be feared. Thematically, the aliens represent the golden age of science fiction, the optimism, the thrill of exploration, and the excitement of the future. The aliens are a representation of Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the future, with technological progress comes social progress. And in turn, the humans in Rescue Party represent the opposite. They are the modern era of science fiction, the grit, the pessimism, and the distrust. The humans represent Ridley Scott’s vision of the future, with technological progress comes social decay and subservience.