Some Memorable Films from Ottawa
I saw so many films at the Ottawa Animation festival, that it’s hard to remember them all. But here’s just a couple of the ones that stuck in my mind (and that are also on youtube). Watching these blurry little web-compressed videos is obviously no substitute for seeing them projected in a theatre, but I wanted to share them with those folks who couldn’t make it.
“REVOLVER”: Swedish director Jonas Odell gave a lecture before blowing my mind with this short.
“Rocket Robin Hood”: Director Daniel Barrow played an episode of this 1960’s Canadian cartoon before he showed his own. It must have been an early influence for him. The below clip isn’t the episode he showed, but you’ll get the idea.
“Peace On Earth”: This 1939 anti-war cartoon was shown at a showcase of propaganda cartoons. Post-apocalyptic squirrels looking back on extinct humans. Effective.
I Like Ike”: Can you imagine McCain or Obama doing something like this? How times have changed.
“Kool-Aid Go Go”: Something about Bugs Bunny dancing with real kids is memorable.
“OKTAPODI”: A wonderful new CG film from Europe.
“SUPERJAIL”: I hadn’t seen a full episode of this Adult Swim show until Ottawa. My mind was, once again, blown away. I got to hang out with director Christy Karacas afterwards, and he’s as entertaining as his work.
“BUNJIES”: a great short from the Kids TV animation showcase.
“THE THEIF AND COBBLER”: The highlight for many of us was watching John Canemaker interview legendary director Richard Williams and seeing clips from this never-completed masterpiece.
So there you have it, just a few of the things we watched in Ottawa. I’m still trying to scotch-tape my mind back together.
