When the day breaks

November 6th, 2007

Directed by Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby, written by Wendy Tilby.

Description: This Oscar nominee will seem strange at first seeing as it’s about people, but represented as animals, in a daily human environment, performing typical human actions. The point of the animation, as far as I can tell is to illustrate the interconnections between the lives in a big city, lives that even though at first sight may seem totally uninfluenced by one another, are actually connected, and sometimes in quite meaningful ways. However, I have not been able to elucidate the mystery of why the characters in this animation are animals. Maybe you have an idea?

IMDB link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0200282/

Posted in urban life, minimalist, animals, conceptual, weird, classic animation | 1 Comment »

Stage fright

November 2nd, 2007

Written and directed by Steve Box, produced (among others) by Nick Park.

Description: This is one of the earlier animated pieces for which Nick Park acted as executive producer, and although it won a BAFTA award, it is quite different from some of his more famous later work, such as the acclaimed animated comedy series, Wallace and Grommit. The animation is a representation of the transition from vaudeville to cinematography and it shows the hardships a dog juggling vaudevillian and his partner must go through in order to secure their future. Although excellently animated, it is slightly disturbing and most certainly a strange piece, not really recommended for the young audience.

IMDB link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0120193/

Posted in claymation, conceptual, weird | No Comments »

Balance

November 1st, 2007

Directed by Christoph Lauenstein and Wolfgang Lauenstein.

Description (fordraff[at]verizon[dot]net) : This short film was completely absorbing and finely worked out. It held my attention from the moment it began until the conundrum of an ending, which earned it a round of applause at the 19th Street Theatre in Allentown, PA, where I saw it. The film illustrates the need for humankind to cooperate and shows what happens when one doesn’t do so, when he puts his selfish interest above the good of the group, even to sending others to their death. One’s selfish pursuit cannot be justified, the film implies, even in the pursuit of art (after all, it was music in the box and the man wanted that music for himself or wanted to explore the interior of the box, i.e., the music, in greater depth). Film has many implications, would repay several viewings and stimulate much discussion.

IMDB link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0096880/

Posted in claymation, humanity, conceptual, weird | No Comments »

Rock my boat

October 29th, 2007

Directed by Jenny Coburn, Thomas Hicks and Will Perrens - Moshi Moshi Records.

Description: Seeing as my internet provider is acting up tonight (either that or the fact I haven’t paid my bill), here’s a nice animated music video from Dntel. Enjoy.

Posted in weird, musical, classic animation | 1 Comment »

La Course à l’abîme

October 26th, 2007

Written and directed by Georges Schwizgebel.

Description: This is quite a different type of animation, one which I could only describe as a morphing painted animation. Although quite chaotic in pace and confusing at times, the animation is a tiny masterpiece in terms of artistic value, and quite a treat for the opera lovers, featuring a beautiful soundtrack, The Damnation of Faust - Scene XVIII, performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Even though it begins close up with a horse riding scene, the camera slowly moves away to reveal that the whole composition is actually a single moving painting that the camera pans around in a spiraling motion. As the action unfolds, it presents a conceptual exploration of the world and humanity itself, with the recurring motif of the horse riders. Although not accessible to any viewer and more less so to those with little patience and tired eyes, this piece of art is well worth watching.

IMDB link: http://imdb.com/title/tt0380282/

Posted in painting, humanity, conceptual, weird, classic animation | No Comments »
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