Animation Theatre

Brothers Quay (1947)

The Quay brothers are influential stop-motion animators. Most of their films were created under influence of Eastern European culture. Quay Brothers were inspired by works of Walerian Borowczyk, Jan Lenica; writers Franz Kafka, Bruno Schulz, Robert Walser and Michel de Ghelderode; puppeteers Wladyslaw Starewicz and Richard Teschner.

Their films are flight of imagination including eerie and uncanny décor, unsystematic and long lasting close-ups which combine in an unconscious and esoteric dream. Kafkaesque puppets increase uncanny effect and the meticulous attention to the details and mise-en-scène turn their films into a dream world of metaphor and visual poetry. Poetic fragments and morbid textures followed by whisper and celestial music plunge you into the universe which is out of your comprehension.

The film “The Cabinet of Jan Svankmajer” is homage to the filmmaker whose work they admire. It is said that Jan Svankmajer is considered as a major influence however they discovered his works in 1983, by this time their style and preoccupation had been formed. Some of their films are their own interpretation of writings and compositions of authors, writers and composers they have encountered. For example, Street of Crocodiles is based on Bruno Schulz's short story, "Rehearsals for Extinct Anatomies" and was inspired by a print by Fragonard.

The films “The Street of Crocodiles” and “Comb”

“In addition to puppet films, the Quays' work encompasses various animated shorts and advertising commissions (including documentaries on Punch and Judy, Stravinsky, Janácek and the art of Anamorphosis "De Artificiali Perspectiva," and station/network I.D.'s (Channel 4, MTV). They have designed theatre and opera productions (Mazeppa, A Flea in Her Ear, The Love of Three Oranges) for various European venues and made music videos, including collaborating on Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer, and promos for Michael Penn and His Name is Alive.”


Ray Harryhausen (1920-)

Ray Harryhausen is an American film producer and a special effects creator most famous for his brand of stop-motion model animation. The work of the pioneer animator William O’brien in “King Kong” exerted the pivotal influence on Harryhausen’s work. The most notable works in his career are “Mighty Joe Young” in collaboration with Willis O’Brien, “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad” and “Jason and the Argonauts” with its distinctive and famous sword fight against skeleton warriors.

Jason and the Argonauts

“Jason and the Argonauts” (1963) is a fantasy feature film directed by Don Chaffey in collaboration with stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen. The movie is famous for its stop-motion monsters.
The film is an adaptation of Greek mythology about Jason’s adventures to the Golden Fleece. The Greek Mythology never gets old and attracts audience with their Gods, Heroes and various mythical beasts. The film is undoubtedly dated and doesn’t bring satisfaction to the modern viewer. The contemporary audience is spoilt by 3D hyper realistic models and latest special effects. Therefore, “Jason and the Argonauts” is a true torture for them. However, for 1963 this film is a great cinematographical achievement.
After the O’Brien’s “King Kong” the film “Jason and the Argonauts” reveals a fleeting improvement in animation techniques. The movements of models became more complex and believable. Ray Harryhausen was responsible for all mythical creatures in the film including harpies, hydra, the great Titan of Talos and skeletons. The sequences with these unbelievable monsters created an impression on the audience and became memorable. In my opinion, another technical and perhaps cinematic progress lies in the use of scale. The scale added an epic atmosphere to the sequences, particularly, the most memorable scenes with the Talos and Poseidon.
To conclude, the film had a great achievement in stop-motion animation and cinematographical techniques, which inspired many filmmakers and animators in the future.

Lotte Reiniger (1899- 1981)

Lotte Reiniger was a German-British silhouette animator and film director. Her handy-craft silhouette world gives an opportunity to the audience to create their own images. This style of animation is partially similar to the books. Regardless of the fact that we are able to see only black character’s silhouettes, we can easily build their appearance in our heads.
The Cinderella is a well-known classic folk tale. However, the silhouette style is perceived differently from the classic Disney animation. It’s more adult and leaves some space for your imagination. I enjoyed watching it – a wonderful story from a childhood and a silhouette technique which I have never encountered before.

Lotte Reiniger’s animation, Cinderella (1954)
Video is explaining the art behind the Lotte Reiniger’s works.


Jan Svankmajer (1934-)

Jan Svankmajer is a Chech surrealist artist. He is a representative of experimental cinematography, author of surrealistic animations, sculptures and tactile poems. The influence of his work still remains indisputable for many world-wide geniuses from Tim Burton to Quay Brothers. By 1982 the apotheosis of his career was reached with the short film “Dimension of Dialogues”. The themes of his creative work usually represent fear of closed spaces, Freudian concept of childhood and desires and different themes of manipulation. However, some works remind more tough logical schemes as in “Et cetera”. The animation is divided into three equal parts: “Wings”, “Whip” and “Home”. The allegory in these three illustrations defines a human life. The film demonstrates how limited and constrained life is.

One of his most famous short films “Dimensions of Dialogue” (1982)

The film includes simple symbolism with hidden complex meanings on what Dialogue is. Here we are able to contemplate relationships between man and woman and their dialogue with consequences. The concept of dialogues usually consists of questions and answers, arguments and misunderstandings with everything that ensues from them. The strange and deep animation in Jan Svankmajer’s manner is characterized by tools of artistic expressiveness (cardboards, tins, paper and of course plasticine) that twirl in a beautiful chaos.
The film is divided into three parts: “Exhaustive Discussion", "Passionate Discourse" and "Factual Conversation". These allegorical parts reflect our reality brilliantly.


Wladislaw Starewicz (1882 – 1965)


Wladislaw Starewicz was a Polish stop-motion animator who used insects and animals as his protagonists.

The Mascot is a great 3D stop-motion film made in 1933. It was a remarkable achievement in the animation field for that time. Sensitive and tough plot: one dog goes through “hell” to get an orange to a poor little girl. He doesn’t lead astray and reaches his goal fighting all sorts of weird demons, other puppets and Satan himself. Everything is about friendship and loyalty.

My attitude to this animation can be described with one word – indifferent. I hardly can define this animation to myself. I’m just fed up with this kind of films and plots.

Pixar – Up

Pixar Animation Studios is an American CGI animation production. In 1984 John Lasseter left his animation job at Disney to join filmmaker George Lucas’ special-effect computer group, which later became Pixar. Pixar has made 10 feature films beginning with “Toy Story” in 1995 and each one has achieved critical and commercial success. The animation film Up in was made in 2009 which is the first Pixar film presented in Disney Digital 3-D.

UP

The ability of Pixar’s writers to create universal scripts, which brilliantly pull audience’s soul strings, became a legend. From the first sight the story is a simple and captivating adventurous romance which contains idea that it is never late to change your destiny. Indeed, this is a sad parable. The medal always has two sides. The same way the race for a dream can be uplifting and destructive for human. Another semantic meaning is the appearance of a little boy. This symbolizes a phenomenon of similarity between old age and youth.
This is a marvellous story with thoughts and beautiful pictures which doesn’t leave you indifferent.
Children perceived this animation as a bright adventure to exotic world with various fantastic creatures. However, in this sky adventure on the floating house, the adult audience clearly sees a metaphor of life extinction, returning to the childhood, call of death and Azrael’s whisper. The harmonic combination of meanings and colourful story is fascinating.


Bill Plymton (1946-)

Bill Plympton is an American animator whose works bring a sparkle of fun and positive energy to this life. His hand-drawn sketchy style is both complex and simple. Bill’s exaggeration of characters, metaphorical and morphological techniques and Buddha-like wisdoms which are enclosed in his animations combine in a positive, comedic and esoteric world. His caricatures and character over-exaggeration double positive vision.

“The Tune” was animator Bill Plympton's first full-length feature film. Finally, I saw something positive and comfortable in this project. Del, a hard-working songwriter, is trying to write a perfect song for his boss, Mr. Mega, so he can keep his job and his girlfriend Didi. But he can not accomplish it, because he has lost children’s clear, unspoiled vision of the world. Sometimes, I think, we all have lost it. On the way to work he is suddenly thrown into the town called Flooby Nooby. In this town he gains knowledge on how to think via his heart, rather than mind. The animation is followed by free and easy music, which couldn’t leave me indifferent. The morphing “Buddha” man sequence was brilliantly made, including wisdom and deep thoughts which were combined with LSD morphing animation. Animation’s comedic atmosphere is a true relief, especially, after the weird, uncanny and morbid animations. Overall, the animation is a polished diamond stylized and full of positive energy. Let’s keep our life vectors in a positive direction.

King Kong (1933)

“King Kong” is an iconic and significant monster film. The Kong registered himself as a new word in the cinematography. The film had an influence on many directors and rouse to create numerous remakes and analogues like Godzilla. Kong is distinguished for its stop-motion animation and its musical score. Willis O’Brien’s special effects allowed to breath in life into King Kong and other creatures like Dinosaur. Everything is delivered brilliantly and skilfully: the depths of the skull island, the epic Kong fight against Dinosaur and the climb on the Empire State Building.

To be honest, I don’t like Kong movies and I’m definitely not inspired by the iconic techniques and stop-motion model animation. These monster movies à la Cloverfield, Godzilla and finally King Kong do not mean anything to me. The film is dull and dated to enjoy its epic sequences.


Jiri Barta (1948-)

Jiri Barta is a Czech stop-motion animator who often uses dolls and wood to create his weird worlds saturated with uncanniness. My first familiarization with Jiri Barta’s animations started with the animation called “Klub Odlozenych” (Club of the laid off). This animation represents abandoned “part” of society and its collision of generations. Probably, animation’s strange and eerie atmosphere is an allegory to the rusted and imperfect society. Dolls are perfectly stylized and their easy definable roles are fascinating.

I am not happy with social and political themes. Yes, it is a serious and deep animation, but I’m just tired of different social exfoliations. To be honest, social themes annoy me. Humanity self-destruction, decay and disability to make compromises is a great field for animation, however, it’s really sad to watch. Therefore, this animation left negative sensations and feelings in my fevered brain.


La Planète Sauvage

René Laloux's “La Planète Sauvage” (1973) is an animated science fiction feature film. The story is based on the novel Oms en série, by the French writer Stefan Wul. The film is notable for its surreal vision. The landscape of the Draag planet is full of strange creatures and different kinds of plants. The beautifully drawn animation is followed by various social and behaviouristic themes. The Draag represents an allegory to human behaviour. Humans are arrogant beings with no respect to animal and plant worlds, in other words with no respect to “Mother Earth”. And they never realize what damage they cause to low-level beings. The film has strong narration, capturing audience from beginning until the end. Narration leads us to themes like knowledge and superstition. Humans’ nature is constructed in a way that if they don’t understand something, they try to destroy it. Another theme which I noted to myself was the rebellion of Oms. “One thing you can count on: You push a man too far, and sooner or later he'll start pushing back.” The same thing I was able to perceive in this animation. In the end author tells us, that every life form can live in peace and harmony. Overall, we have got the surrealistic and highly beautiful animation with its unique world followed by deep narration. I enjoyed watching it twice.

Spirited Away

Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi?, literally, Sen and Chihiro's Spiriting Away) is a 2001 Japanese animated film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli.

The film received many awards, including the second Oscar ever awarded for Best Animated Feature, the first anime film to win an Academy Award, and the first (and so far only) non-English speaking animation to win. The film also won the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival (tied with Bloody Sunday) and is among the top ten in the BFI list of the 50 films you should see by the age of 14.

Spirited Away overtook Titanic in the Japanese box office to become the highest-grossing film in Japanese history.


The animation film “Spirited Away”, which was orientated towards Japanese audience in the first place, was accepted and became loved by other viewers. This is not an adaptation of the classic novel, neither an action film or fantasy, but rather half fairy tale – half parable, directed towards specific audience. Something of “what is good and what is bad” from the man of elderly age, who observes how his familiar world begins to change and how unshakeable things turn into memory. He made not a fantasy quest, which can be understood by anyone in the present days. Miyazaki filled the film with national and temporal colour story. The film is not only about growing up (like in “Totoro”), but finding your inner true.

Beneath rust there is hidden a shining blade. The same way the good and the true essence of every human are hidden beneath cowardice, laziness and greediness. Principal denying of evil in Japanese culture is based on belief that every man must have his own place and can be judged by his status and duties. It is possible to clear yourself from every mistake and fault. This is the secret of real magic, which can turn the stink spirit into the great master of rivers and remove the most terrifying curse. Evil is dirt which must be removed, cleaned, scraped off and thrown away – and then there will be goodness and beauty. Famous Japanese cleanliness and accuracy are based on this belief.

It is useless to guess who is bad and who is good in this animation: terrifying Yubaba, the twin-sister of “good” Zeniba, who is modest and caress. However, she tried to kill the thief without any hesitation. The true treasure for Yubaba is not gold. It is not by accident that Yubaba’s business serves a worthy cause.

Good and evil are no more than reflections of each other. In some ways they are different, but both are equally strict to “lazybones”. The world behind abandoned railroad station – this is the ideal Miyazaki’s Japan, where everyone can live only by working and occupying a proper place. Otherwise you can disappear, become soot or turn into a pig.

It is cruel, but fair. Traditional, however too didactical in some places: even tiny animated dust creatures called susuwatari from Totoro are working; Chihiro signs a true treaty, a true gift for her is a hair tie – which was made not by spell, but in the result of cooperative labour. The gifts like this are more expensive than gold, which was offered by “no face”. Even “No face” wasn’t released from a spell and did not become a good person – he just found his own home and home duties. He found himself and his place in this world. Isn’t it a main goal in our life?



I must admit that there are many nuances in the rules of “universal work”: to do a work for someone is not right. The sequence in boiler room: Chihiro’s sincere pity turns into a real problem for her and for the common cause.

Realizing his own ideal-disappearing Japan Miyazaki traditionally opens visual magnificence of visual environment: the soft contrast of day and night; sky, water and grass are pliable and smooth; detailed precision in surrounded world. Some kind of “candy for eyes” is very similar to a child’s perception – many spirits and deities in the bathhouse remind of toys and pictures from childhood. Doll-like and colour creatures who inhabit this world arouse associations with bright flags of national holydays, filled with saturated colours of Ukiyo-e’s ("pictures of the floating world") engravings, costumes and Kabuki masks. Only for this reason alone the viewer can love “Spirited away” – as many people fell in love with many-sided and eternal beauty of Japan and Japanese understanding of beauty.

The loss of this world-view does not mean growing up, but forgetting yourself. To lose one’s own difficult Japanese name and change it on something short and comfortable. To lose a skill to see the beauty of hills which are covered by grass. Not regret that you didn’t take bread and butter for picnic, how did Chihiro’s mother. The attitude towards food in this animation is a mockery to modern cook programs which became popular in Japanese.

There are lots of details in “Spirited away”, so it is hard to call this animation film a fairy tale. There are many sad notes, even difficult moments, and sense of loss of something important fills this film from the beginning to the final titles, when sunlight plays with the dust in the desert interiors of abandoned rail station and everything that happened is perceived as a dream. This is a different Miyazaki, he is tired rather than old – but able to save this child’s desire to change the world and make it better.

The whole animation is filled with different characters. Every character in this film deserves a separate story. Even that one leg lamp, which we can see only for few seconds, does not leave our minds. Miyazaki does not give explanation to some characters and he leaves you with your own guesses. This is incredible and opposite from Disney animation where everything is clear.

After all these magic adventures Chihiro has got only memories, hair tie and own name – the real treasures. Will she meet the master of river of amber again and what will happen to her in the new school? Who knows? But she already saved her parents. She convicted herself that without hard and dirty work you can not clean river spirits, can not calm down greed and self-interest spirits, you don’t find your own place and don’t save those who need to be saved. She doesn’t forget her name and doesn’t become someone else. Even if the train goes only one way and it is forbidden to look back – she will definitely meet the dragon which she saw in the childhood. These moments are not be to forgotten.

This is truly a masterpiece!

Animation Theatre 1

I could not understand the Norman McLaren's animations. Probably, I was on the different wave and couldn't catch the mood or I have different taste, which discord with these animations.

Norman McLaren Begone dull care 1949

And ?

The Pas de Deux(1968)


I am not telling that these animations are bad. They are good, especially The Pas de Deux - beautifully made and perfectly delivered to the audience.
I just didn't like it.

Fantasia is a 1940 American animated film produced by Walt Disney.

Fantasia - lo schiaccianoci

Fantasia - Russian flowers

Fantasia - Night on Bold Mountain


The brilliant atmosphere: from dancing psychedelic mushroom in chinese style to demon from the mountain. And the musical illustration is delightfully performed by orchestra.
Back to childhood.

The Fourth Kind

The Fourth Kind is a 2009 film directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi. The Fourth Kind is a psychological thriller with elements of sci-fi, horror and mystery genres. It is directed in the “Blair Witch” and “Paranormal Activity” style i.e. documentary filming. In this case, even tapes with “real” people were used to convince audience in truthfulness. They were shown alongside with the film which, from the editing point of view, makes strong psychological impact on the audience’s mind.

The film opens with a literal introduction by Milla Jovovich, who explains that the film is based on actual footage from real cases. Dr. Abigail Tyler (Milla Jovovich) began videotaping sessions with traumatized patients and unwittingly discovered some of the most disturbing evidence of alien abduction ever documented.

Before watching it you must answer the question to yourselves: are you ready to accept what you will see? Are you ready to believe in it? But if you are sceptic and 100% sure that there is nothing supernatural in this world and you are waiting effects and just another story about aliens: this is your choice and no one can judge you. Although, then I can assure you that this film is not for you. Most of the people made this mistake. They are not pleased, because they don’t believe and they don’t want to believe.
I think the lack of knowledge and factors as well as corrupted tapes don’t tell us that everything in this film is a trickery or just imagination of director.

Of course, I am not a fanatic of an alien idea and I am not trying to convince you that aliens do exist and that everything in this film is truth, but I just suggest you to think that if you don’t know something it doesn’t mean that it does not exist.

This is a heavy psychological, inexplicable documentary film with a big amount of dialogues. Is it scary? Rather yes than no. Thanks to these tapes with shaking people, screams etc. the film has a great eerie atmosphere, an atmosphere of mystery and uncanniness. It was really scary in a few moments, even when I knew what would happen in the next scene.

The editing plays strongly with your imagination. I think the editing is the best side of this film, because it makes psychological tension. The sequence when the patient is telling about his nightmares: camera shows you the patient, then the psychiatrist and when it comes back there is another patient with a similar problem and exactly the same description. It hits you with the full power. The cuts with owl especially make a psychological impact on your mind and play with your imagination.

I am not rejecting everything that I can not explain, so that’s why I did not write that this is just another sci-fi alien film. I enjoyed the atmosphere of The Fourth Kind and its thrilling sequences. I allowed myself to be imbued by its atmosphere and tried to feel and touch the watching subject.
After watching it I was left with strong “positive” emotions.

Poltergeist

Poltergeist is a 1982 film directed by Steven Spielberg.

The film “Poltergreist” is a remarkable example of the mystic horror, which is able to frighten even nowadays. The plot was made out by Steven Spielberg. I must admit, that composition deserves a separate award: twenty minutes until the end, when you are ready to relax, suddenly, you receive another hit on your head with additional horror. The excellent special effects make this film look good even in the present days. The film is still popular. I think, first of all, that this happened, because it was parodied in the film “Scary Movie 2” 2001 by Keenen Ivory Wayans. Parody is, to an extent, an indication of high quality of original.

Of course, content of the film is not deep – even in the other world the souls continue suffering and feel emotions. Don’t be a greedy and don’t try to connect to the other world. And you don’t try to build own happiness on the bones of others (the little town, where are living the family is built on the graveyard). In my opinion, Spielberg also represents his own attitude to the television.

Overall, the film “Poltergeist” is qualitative.

Blue Velvet

Blue Velvet is a 1986 American mystery film written and directed by David Lynch, that exhibits elements of both film noir and surrealism.

Blue Velvet is able to strike you unpleasantly not so much with its brutality, but rather with harshness in the interpretation of people’s characters, who are living in the “little golden America”. Frank Booth, who inflicts his bizarre sexual proclivities — which include Inhaling Nitrous Oxide, dry humping, and sadomasochism — upon Dorothy, will be more frightening than thousand maniacs and undisguised monsters, who frighten the trusty audience from the television screens. And unrestrained insane sensuality of Dorothy Vallens gradually goes out of control and crushes the stream of voluptuousness on the minds of the audience. However the scenes of sexual abuse of pure souls are more impressive. Sexual abuse is committed with their permission – Jeffrey Beaumont after the session of the voyeurism becomes a competent participant of events. And after returning to the routine life, personified by Sandy, submits to the fact that his innocence is lost.

The picture is received as a thriller with elements of black humor comedy. Formally, the borders of reality are not broken and infernal events get truthful and logic explanations. However, the unfortunate ear is shown as an allusion to a basic symbol of surrealism not accidently – the eye, which was cut without hesitation by Louis Bunuel and Salvador Dali, anticipating their journey through human subconsciousness. David Lynch expands the picture by including all other sense organs: hearing, sense of smell, sense of taste and sense of touch. It is possible to pick up any of these senses to penetrate into the mysterious world, the entrance of which is only sealed by curtains of blue velvet. The world is frightening to the depths and insuperably attractive at the same time.

In this, I suppose, lies the reason of powerful affection of “Blue Velvet”. By the end of the viewing I had a sense that the story is a whole lot deeper. David Lynch does not deny the presence of autobiographical motives, but gives the film a slightly broader sound. It is sort of a peculiar global session of psychoanalysis that helps to reach into the collective unconscious – the unconscious of the whole modern civilization. Of course, by the example of USA, where the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth is an analogue, at least, to the Fall of humankind described in the Bible.