Canadian Women Animators at Academy Event
September 19th, 2007 by Andre Soares
When most people think of animation, the words "Disney" and "Pixar" are the first that pop up in their heads.
Since I’m not most people, when I think of animation what pops up in my head is the National Film Board of Canada (NFB).
So, I’m happy to report that the NFB and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present the 11th Marc Davis Celebration of Animation, whose theme will be "Canadian Women in Animation." The event will take place on Wednesday, October 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
Attendees will include Oscar nominees Janet Perlman, Caroline Leaf, Wendy Tilby, and Amanda Forbis (right, with Tilby), in addition to Academy Award winner Torill Kove. The animators will introduce their short films, and will then take part in a panel discussion moderated by animation critic Charles Solomon.
As per the Academy’s press release, "’Canadian Women in Animation’ will explore the unique and personal visual styles of the five Academy Award-nominated filmmakers, who all work in Canada. The evening will illuminate not only each individual’s approach to animation, but also the collective contributions that the National Film Board of Canada — and particularly its women animators — have made to the art form."
The panelists’ Oscar-nominated and -winning films to be screened are (film descriptions are from the press release):
The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin (1981, above), produced and directed by Perlman, is a fresh look at a centuries-old tale, using a medieval style of illustration to animate the story of Cinderella Penguin, who loses her magic flipper. The film was produced using traditional cel animation.
The Street (1976), directed by Leaf, offers an interpretation of a short story by Mordecai Richler about a family dealing with an old and infirm relative. The film was produced using tempera mixed with oil on glass.
When the Day Breaks (1999), directed by Tilby and Forbis, tells the bittersweet tale of Ruby the pig, whose life takes an unexpected turn after she witnesses the accidental death of a stranger. The exquisitely crafted four-year labor of love uses pencil and paint on photocopies, giving the film a textured look reminiscent of a flickering newsreel.
The Danish Poet (2006, top photo), directed by Kove, won the Academy Award for Animated Short Film. The film follows Kasper, a poet who goes on holiday to Norway to meet the famous writer Sigrid Undset. "The Danish Poet" was created from pencil drawings that were digitally scanned and colored, and features backgrounds enhanced with oil-painted skies by Montreal artist Anne Ashton.
Tickets for "Canadian Women in Animation" are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Tickets may be purchased online at www.oscars.org, by mail, or in person at the Academy box office during regular business hours.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. All seating is unreserved. The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call (310) 247-3600.
Tilby and Forbis photo: © A.M.P.A.S.
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