[Our thanks to Kier-La Janisse for the following.]
Another Ottawa International Festival of Animation has wrapped, and a recent move to the vicinity has finally allowed me to attend the legendary event, the largest in Canada of its kind, and renowned internationally as a launching pad for many up-and-coming animators. The industry section of the festival alone - a robust conference that facilitates interaction between animation studios, schools and budding talent - makes the festival unique, but at the head of it all is Artistic Director Chris Robinson, eccentric animation scholar whose curatorial preference for underdog animation ensures that Oiaf stays vital and exciting.
Going through last year's schedule, I was a bit worried that the programming was going mainstream, but any doubts were allayed by this year's feature competition (which forewent some obvious choices - the new Svankmajer, for example - in favour of more personal, low budget productions) and various indie-focused retrospectives.
Winnipeg animator Mike Maryniuk...
Another Ottawa International Festival of Animation has wrapped, and a recent move to the vicinity has finally allowed me to attend the legendary event, the largest in Canada of its kind, and renowned internationally as a launching pad for many up-and-coming animators. The industry section of the festival alone - a robust conference that facilitates interaction between animation studios, schools and budding talent - makes the festival unique, but at the head of it all is Artistic Director Chris Robinson, eccentric animation scholar whose curatorial preference for underdog animation ensures that Oiaf stays vital and exciting.
Going through last year's schedule, I was a bit worried that the programming was going mainstream, but any doubts were allayed by this year's feature competition (which forewent some obvious choices - the new Svankmajer, for example - in favour of more personal, low budget productions) and various indie-focused retrospectives.
Winnipeg animator Mike Maryniuk...
- 10/27/2010
- Screen Anarchy
'Canada's Animation Festival'
NEW YORK -- Not to be outdone by the recent influx of animation festivals, the National Film Board of Canada celebrates its 50th anniversary with this vastly entertaining collection of 11 new films and five selected classic moments.
Now making its American theatrical premiere, ''The National Film Board of Canada's Animation Festival'' is filled with innovative, hilarious and mesmerizing animation techniques. It's almost ridiculous to compare it with several of the other animation festivals that recently graced our screens because each is composed of a varying number of totally distinct animated films.
However, Canada's NFB has chosen wisely, the end result being one of the most consistent compilations in terms of quality and enjoyment. The worst of the lot is still quite good, while the best shorts are overwhelmingly impressive.
Animation fans will revel in each dedicated frame of fun. Ranging from the silly but funny art form to the sophisticated and intricately detailed masterpieces, each piece is refreshingly unique and should ultimately appeal to a wide range of equally silly and sophisticated viewers.
As always, with such a delightful cornucopia of treats, it is difficult to select a favorite. It's a nice problem to have.
In quick and hilarious fashion, many of the shorts are broken up by snippets of past classic moments. It is certainly a desirable way to clean the palate between courses. The most classic moment is Richard Condie's ''The Big Snit, '' which is a riotous exchange between a goofy man and his wife while playing Scrabble.
Of the featured shorts, the most laugh-filled is Les Drew's ''Every Dog's Guide to the Playground.'' In it, the obnoxious owner of a broken-tailed dog enters his unwilling canine into a pet contest and proceeds to get the dog into shape -- even if it kills him.
Stylistically speaking, Caroline Leaf's ''Two Sisters'' takes top honors as Leaf tells the story of two hermit-type sisters who fear the outside world. Scratching directly onto 70mm film, Leaf creates uniquely oblique imagery that is both haunting and hypnotic. Expect to see more of this technique in the near future.
Also beautifully animated is Wendy Tilby's ''Strings, '' wherein a woman meticulously prepares for her bath while her downstairs neighbor practices on his violin with three other musicians. The shadowed drawings and perfectly choreographed timing of the piece make it one of the more memorable participants.
Again, there's not an inferior short or non-classic moment in this festival. None run too long, which sometimes can be a problem. And though we may be left wanting even more, these 16 animated gems will satisfy most viewers' craving for a light-hearted smile-producing trip to the movies.
THE NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA'S ANIMATION FESTIVAL
A National Film Board of Canada Release
Animators-directors: Brian Duchscherer, Les Drew, John Weldon, Real Berard, Andre Leduc, Caroline Leaf, Suzanne Gervais, Jacques Giraldeau, Alison Snowden, David Fine, Wendy Tilby, Richard
Animators-directors: Brian Duchscherer, Les Drew, John Weldon, Real Berard, Andre Leduc, Caroline Leaf, Suzanne Gervais, Jacques Giraldeau, Alison Snowden, David Fine, Wendy Tilby, RichardCondie, Martin Barry, Brad Caslor, Christopher Hinton, Cordell Barker
Running time -- 87 minutes
No MPAA rating
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
Now making its American theatrical premiere, ''The National Film Board of Canada's Animation Festival'' is filled with innovative, hilarious and mesmerizing animation techniques. It's almost ridiculous to compare it with several of the other animation festivals that recently graced our screens because each is composed of a varying number of totally distinct animated films.
However, Canada's NFB has chosen wisely, the end result being one of the most consistent compilations in terms of quality and enjoyment. The worst of the lot is still quite good, while the best shorts are overwhelmingly impressive.
Animation fans will revel in each dedicated frame of fun. Ranging from the silly but funny art form to the sophisticated and intricately detailed masterpieces, each piece is refreshingly unique and should ultimately appeal to a wide range of equally silly and sophisticated viewers.
As always, with such a delightful cornucopia of treats, it is difficult to select a favorite. It's a nice problem to have.
In quick and hilarious fashion, many of the shorts are broken up by snippets of past classic moments. It is certainly a desirable way to clean the palate between courses. The most classic moment is Richard Condie's ''The Big Snit, '' which is a riotous exchange between a goofy man and his wife while playing Scrabble.
Of the featured shorts, the most laugh-filled is Les Drew's ''Every Dog's Guide to the Playground.'' In it, the obnoxious owner of a broken-tailed dog enters his unwilling canine into a pet contest and proceeds to get the dog into shape -- even if it kills him.
Stylistically speaking, Caroline Leaf's ''Two Sisters'' takes top honors as Leaf tells the story of two hermit-type sisters who fear the outside world. Scratching directly onto 70mm film, Leaf creates uniquely oblique imagery that is both haunting and hypnotic. Expect to see more of this technique in the near future.
Also beautifully animated is Wendy Tilby's ''Strings, '' wherein a woman meticulously prepares for her bath while her downstairs neighbor practices on his violin with three other musicians. The shadowed drawings and perfectly choreographed timing of the piece make it one of the more memorable participants.
Again, there's not an inferior short or non-classic moment in this festival. None run too long, which sometimes can be a problem. And though we may be left wanting even more, these 16 animated gems will satisfy most viewers' craving for a light-hearted smile-producing trip to the movies.
THE NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA'S ANIMATION FESTIVAL
A National Film Board of Canada Release
Animators-directors: Brian Duchscherer, Les Drew, John Weldon, Real Berard, Andre Leduc, Caroline Leaf, Suzanne Gervais, Jacques Giraldeau, Alison Snowden, David Fine, Wendy Tilby, Richard
Animators-directors: Brian Duchscherer, Les Drew, John Weldon, Real Berard, Andre Leduc, Caroline Leaf, Suzanne Gervais, Jacques Giraldeau, Alison Snowden, David Fine, Wendy Tilby, RichardCondie, Martin Barry, Brad Caslor, Christopher Hinton, Cordell Barker
Running time -- 87 minutes
No MPAA rating
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 12/27/1991
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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