Animation

  • Rintarô – Metoroporisu AKA Metropolis (2001)

    2001-2010AnimationJapanRintarôSci-Fi
    Metoroporisu (2001)
    Metoroporisu (2001)

    Metropolis is a visually stunning, rich, and memorable pleasure. It’s contributors have brought us other classics such as Astroboy and Akira. The story takes place in the muti-leveled, fascinating, megalopolis called Metropolis. Metropolis is loosely ruled by Duke Red, who is close to presenting his ultimate work, an advanced AI robot girl named Tima. His son; however, is an opponent of AI and resents Tima. Tima finds herself deep within the labyrinth of Meteoplolis. She befriends the kind son of a police officer and begins exploring her new world. When Duke Red’s son separates this new friendship, he puts much more at risk than anyone thought possible.Read More »

  • Frédéric Back – L’homme qui plantait des arbres aka The Man Who Planted Trees (1987)

    1981-1990AnimationCanadaDramaFrédéric Back
    L'homme qui plantait des arbres (1987)
    L’homme qui plantait des arbres (1987)

    The story of one shepherd’s single-handed effort to reforest a desolate valley.Read More »

  • Calin Cazan & Mircea Toia & Victor Antonescu – Misiunea spatialã Delta AKA Delta Space Mission (1984)

    Mircea Toia1981-1990AnimationCalin CazanRomaniaSci-Fi
    Misiunea spatialã Delta (1984)
    Misiunea spatialã Delta (1984)

    The year is 3084. Man has settled interplanetary space but space is still full of secrets. On a research mission to a newly discovered galaxy heads the most advanced spaceship, Delta, operated by an extremely powerful electronic brain. Project Delta was conceived in order to establish a dialogue between intergalactic civilizations. Soon after an alien journalist, Alma, is allowed to board the spaceship, she and the captain notice that the super-brain that controls the ship is acting autonomously. No one, however, counts on the fact that this artificial super intelligence will want to explore the area of human emotions and feelings. Eventually, they realize that the journalist’s beauty is the reason for the brain’s odd behavior. She has become its muse. The enamored machine becomes out of control and threatens all living things around them.Read More »

  • Walter R. Booth – The Sorcerer’s Scissors (1907)

    1901-1910AnimationShort FilmUnited KingdomWalter R. Booth
    The Sorcerer's Scissors (1907)
    The Sorcerer’s Scissors (1907)

    This stunning example of Edwardian cut-and-paste creativity, powered by magical scissors and Hunts Fish Glue, is part of the origin story of British animation. Former stage magician and special effects pioneer Walter Booth was one of the pioneers in adding stop-motion filming frame by frame to make static objects and still images appear to move to the filmmakers armoury.Read More »

  • Will Vinton – The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985)

    1981-1990AnimationFantasyUSAWill Vinton
    The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985)
    The Adventures of Mark Twain (1985)

    Based on elements from the stories of Mark Twain, this feature-length Claymation fantasy follows the adventures of Tom Sawyer, Becky Thatcher and Huck Finn as they stowaway aboard the interplanetary balloon of Mark Twain. Twain, disgusted with the human race, is intent upon finding Halley’s Comet and crashing into it, achieving his “destiny.” It’s up to Tom, Becky, and Huck to convince him that his judgment is wrong and that he still has much to offer humanity that might make a difference. Their efforts aren’t just charitable; if they fail, they will share Twain’s fate. Along the way, they use a magical time portal to get a detailed overview of the Twain philosophy, observing the “historical” events that inspired his works.Read More »

  • Jirí Barta – Krysar AKA The Pied Piper (1986)

    Jirí Barta1981-1990AnimationCzech RepublicHorror

    THE PIED PIPER (KRYSAŘ), 1986, Czechoslovakia, 53 min. Director Jiří Barta’s stop-motion animated masterpiece, based on The Pied Piper of Hamelin, is set in a dark and twisted medieval village of narrow streets and weird Gothic arches, half-CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI and half-Jan van Eyck. The money-obsessed citizens, carved out of wood blocks and speaking in an onomatopoeic babble, are like George Grosz caricatures, literally spouting coins from their mouths instead of words. The rats are far more organic and sympathetic, made of real fur and whiskers, constantly tunneling and burrowing under the towering arches and cobblestone streets above. (In one of the film’s many surreal moments, a rat emerges from a gargoyle’s gaping maw.) Fans of fellow Czech animation legend Jan Švankmajer and the Brothers Quay will adore Barta’s eerie, Expressionist gem, recently restored for its first-ever U.S. Blu-ray release through Krátký Film Praha, Deaf Crocodile and Comeback Company. “Barta’s mastery of all aspects of filmmaking are evident: staging, production design, lighting, animation, editing, sound and music combine into dark worlds of repression and revolt with ironic conclusions.” – Phil Tippett (MAD GOD).Read More »

  • Bruce Petty – Leisure (1976)

    1971-1980AnimationAustraliaBruce PettyPolitics

    Bruce Petty, one of Australia’s greatest political cartoonists, created an Oscar-winning film from his inventive and amusing exploration of the history of work and leisure.

    A fast-paced, humorous and thought-provoking film using animation by Australian newspaper cartoonist Bruce Petty. This Oscar-winning film emphasises the use of leisure time as an important aspect of life in our society today. Planning for recreation and leisure time should be undertaken both on a personal and on a public level.Read More »

  • Karel Zeman – Pohádka o Honzíkovi a Marence AKA The Tale of John and Mary (1980)

    1971-1980AdventureAnimationCzech RepublicKarel Zeman

    From nytimes
    The Fairy Tale of Honzik and Marenka employs an ingenious animation technique using cut-out figures that is typical of the creative genius of Karel Zeman, the writer and director of this 66-minute film. The sophistication of the technique, and a sprinkling of puns and twists in the story line that bring out a moral parable on the meaning of liberty, justice, and other social issues, make the fairy tale enjoyable for adults as well as children.Read More »

  • Niki Lindroth von Bahr – Tord och Tord AKA Tord and Tord (2010)

    2001-2010AnimationNiki Lindroth von BahrShort FilmSweden

    One day Tord accidentally walks in to the apartment next to his own. Another person named Tord lives there, he has just moved in. Tord and Tord start to spend time with each other.Read More »

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