Michael Sporn Animation – Splog

These are the titles of the films which have been accepted to compete in the Best Animated Short competition for the Oscar. New York members of the Academy (which included quite a few people who traveled from Canada) were assembled to watch the films and vote their choices for the shortlist which will be immediately assembled. From that shortlist of about 10 films, five will be selected as the nominees to be announced in late January.

_1. EL Dia De Los Muertos (The Day Of The Dead)
_2. A Gathering Of Elephants
_3. The Day My Soul Became A Star
_4. Tales Of The Old Piano, Beethoven
_5. Art’s Desire
_6. Fission
_7. Jeu
_8. Printed Rainbow
_9. Mortel
10. Madame Tutli-Putli
11. My Love (Moya Lyubov)
12. Peter And The Wolf
13. Verschlossen (Closed)
14. Shuteye Hotel
15. Anna And The Moods
16. Ark
17. Blind Man’s Eye
18. Boog And Elliot’s Midnight Bun Run
19. The Chestnut Tree
20. The ChubbChubbs Save Xmas
21. How To Hook Up Your Home Theater
22. I Met The Walrus
23. Map Of The Underground
24. Meme Les Pigeons Vont Au Paradis
_____(Even Pigeons Go To Heaven)
25. Mirage
26. Mr. Schwartz, Mr. Hazen & Mr. Horlocker
27. My Date From Hell
28. The Needful Head
29. Once Upon A Christmas Village
30. The Order
31. The Pearce Sisters
32. Sleeping Betty (Isabelle Au Bois Dormant)
33. Yours Truly

I don’t intend to review these shorts.
After my certainty last year that the best film. Joanna Quinn‘s, Dreams and Desires: Family Ties, would win the Oscar – only to be shocked that she wouldn’t even get a nomination, I’ve learned my lesson. You can’t predict these things, so I won’t.

I would like to talk about the most known of these shorts. I was glad to have seen a number of films I’ve heard about for the past year, and I feel I can finally comment – without giving much of an in-depth criticism. You should think for yourself on these.

The Pearce Sisters was remarkable in its use of cgi animation to animate a rather dark story. It was quite attractive, and, I have to say, did quite a fine job of animating the illustration style. However, it made me think of Caroline Leaf’s Two Sisters. That’s a very different and lovelier film with a similar subject.

For almost a year now, I’ve seen clips from Peter And The Wolf and have read about it. I’m glad to have finally seen it. The film is a daring alteration of the Prokofiev story written for his musical piece. The use of the silence at the open is quite stark and interesting in its approach. It’s an extraordinarily good film with very fine puppet animation. However, I was a bit surprised at the ending; there was no anticlimax. I also felt the credits in silence was a mistake. Sort of the animated version of The Sopranos with less justification than David Chase had.

Just as often, I’ve heard about and read about My Love (Moya Lyubov) by Aleksandr Petrov. Like his other films, this is an elaborate and romantically painted piece. It was a well told story, done with extraordinary skill. I wish I were a fan of Mr. Petrov’s work, but I must admit a prejudice against the style of painting he uses. However I completely respect the complex animation work he’s done.

I have to say I’ve never liked Goofy. From the first, when I’d heard how they were making How To Hook Up Your Home Theater, a continuation of the endless series of unfunny shorts produced in the forties and fifties, there seemed little for me to cheer about. The new regime at Disney was actively trying to recreate one of those mediocre Goofy shorts from that period. Then I’d read a number of reviews after the screening at Ottawa. When Michael Barrier spoke so highly of it, I certainly looked forward to seeing it for myself. And you know what? They succeeded in imitating the feel of those films. (However, I can’t understand why the outlines are so thin. Goofy never had such a thin line in those shorts.) But, really, what difference does that make? It’s a Goofy movie. Not for me. I suppose Donald & Chip n Dale are next. I guess I’m glad they’re training young directors and animators to do 2D work.

This is the fourth time I’ve seen Bill Plympton’s most recent short, Shuteye Hotel. It’s a wholly new look for Bill; the use of cg artwork almost disorients you at the start. You don’t feel as if you’re in PlymptonWorld until the police vehicle pulls up. I quite like this change; it feels right. The film takes Bill’s style to other levels.

Finally I’ve seen Madame Tutli-Putli. This, for me, was the best film on the program. Amazingly sensitive puppet animation which recaptures some dark period in our history (or maybe it’s our future.) I found the live-action eyes extraordinarily distracting and wish they were able to have done the film without them, but, regardless, I felt moved by these characters and the complex story told. It’s a beautiful film.

A final note: I must admit my disappointment in not seeing Koji Yamamura‘s film, Franz Kafka’s A Country Doctor, on the list. I’m such a big fan of Mr. Yamamura’s work that I would have liked to have seen it as part of this event. Maybe next year.

The NY Times has 2 articles about the Performance Capture in the weekend’s #1 film, Beowulf. (UGH! And, no, I do not think it’s a positive that so many people are going to see this animated film.) #1 & #2

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