London International Animation Festival 2014 – Best of Show
Where to start with this years crop of talented directors at London International Animation Festival 2014’s Best of Show? It was a great event as always and the eclectic array of films presented was a wonder to the eyes.
My mum is an Aeroplane
First up was the rather surreal adventure entitled My Mum is an Aeroplane directed by Yulia Aronova, in which we fly around with Mother and Son as they swoop and dive through a Cartoon Modern-esque backdrop. A colourful, child-friendly film animated in a sketchy way with a boiling lined scribble layered over the top.
Koukou
Things couldn’t get more different with the next film as Takashi Ohashi takes us on a kaleidoscopic adventure through the art of synchronisation. Titled Koukou, the film weaves us through a shape-shifting and mesmerising six minutes full of fascinating, monochrome lines and patterns which carefully and precisely sync with the overriding soundtrack. It’s the glimpses of pinks and blues amongst the black and white that gives this film a delightful quality.
Somewhere
Somewhere by UK director Nicolas Ménard sends us up to space next, following the surreal adventure of an astronaut with one limb missing, whilst back on earth his wife has only said limb for company. Weird yet strangely captivating, the tri-colour style really enhances the world and at times leaves you quite calm and serene.
Brutus
Another juxtaposition hits with Svetlana Filippova’s Brutus . Politically charged, it puts you in the shoes of a dog in WW2 Russia, wherein animals are used to fight the cause when humans turn their backs on them. An unsettling and poignant watch, developed in a charcoal style with strong tones and harsh, effective use of shadows and light.
Two Films about Loneliness
Stop motion breaks us out of the gloom in Will Bishop-Stephens/Christopher Eales’s tale Two Films about Loneliness, following two neighbours, one a man and the other a giant hamster. Beyond the initial humour of the premise we enter into a sympathetic film that touches the heart with the use of some gentle comedy culminating in a rewarding and heartwarming end.
Labyrinth
Labyrinth holds our attention next as we follow Mathieu Labaye’s portrayal of a man imprisoned in a cell. Rotoscoped from film, it doesn’t offer too much in terms of animation but does create a great sense of unease and claustrophobia as we are repeatedly shown the same short sequences building and building to an ultimate conclusion.
A History of Pets
A more lighthearted film follows in History of Pets by director Kris Genijn. Whilst Kris is a Dutch director there is an exceeding amount of British humour within this. Tailing the lives of a man’s pets and their grizzly deaths we are treated to an all too familiar series of events. We can all relate to the theme but in terms of style it is more than unique. A triumph in pushing originality.
My Dad
The last two films of the evening come from the overall winners. Firstly the prize for Best British Film went to My Dad by Marcus Armitage. Another politically charged film about a young boy’s early experience with a Dad whose racist and nationalist views are imprinted on him at a young age who, as he begins to grow older, has to make a choice between right and wrong. A great film produced in a painted and charcoal technique, cutting cleverly between black and white in his early life then colour when he’s grown older. As the film progresses, symbolism and the art of suggestion allow us to empathise with the boy’s choices. A great political hot potato with what is currently going on.
Storm Hits Jacket
Best International Film this year went to Storm Hits Jacket by French director Paul Cabon. A surreal film following two young scientists who must try to save their invention from the hands of an evil man whilst struggling with the hopes of love. The style is captivating and the story, as weird as it is, is very enjoyable and its those surreal moments that you wait for and provide most of the humour.
A great bunch of films to round off this years London International Animation Festival 2014. Eclectic as usual but fun and intriguing all the same. Worth checking them all out to seek some inspiration as there is certainly at least one you’ll love.
Keep your eye on Skwigly for more highlights from this year’s LIAF.