Animation 101: What makes a good Short Film?

I came across an article that talks about what makes a short animation successful. The author says that every short animation needs :

1.Original Technique: Try something that has never been done. Originality makes you stand out.

2. Appealing Story or Characters: Make a story that people can relate to, or talk about your personal experiences. We should feel empathy for the characters.

3. Humor: Funny films are always more successful and memorable. The shorter, the better.

4. Design: Go above and beyond what other people have done, or add your individual twist to previous films.

He finishes my stating that the best way to go about making a successful film is to make it for yourself and to make it your own. The audience will do what they want with it, so you should not spend your time trying to please them.