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Norman McLaren mega-post

mclaren

At last, something new in the art of drawing.
- Pablo Picasso speaking of Norman McLaren

No single person embodies the legacy of innovative animation at the National Film Board of Canada like Norman McLaren. So it’s only fitting that they are celebrating 65 years of
animation with a special DVD box set – which includes 15 documentaries, and 58 remastered films.

If you’re not familiar with McLaren’s work, you should check out his classic Oscar-winning film, Neighbours over at the NFB site or his film, A Chairy Tale, which will change the way you sit forever. And, of course, YouTube is hosting a treasure trove of his experimental shorts, but you should start with Begone Dull Care, a gorgeous slice of visual choreography, hand-scratched to accompany the music.

If you’re at the Ottawa International Animation Film Festival next week (attended by
Drawn’s Johnny and Ward!), you’ll find the NFB hosting an Open House.

Finally, the Toronto International Film Festival is also programming a series of Norman McLaren classics, including some of the films mentioned above; afterwards the retrospective will be moving to Paris, New York, London, and Berlin – so keep an eye on your local listings.

UPDATE: You can buy the DVD box-set here.

(Disclosure: I work a few days a week at the NFB office in Montreal… where the walls are plastered with images of McLaren and his work).

  • http://elnegromagnifico.blogspot.com/ Al aka El Negro Magnifico

    MUST HAVE! I love his work. Hen Hop is a big fave of mine.

  • http://elnegromagnifico.blogspot.com Al aka El Negro Magnifico

    MUST HAVE! I love his work. Hen Hop is a big fave of mine.

  • http://www.robotjohnny.com/ Johnny

    I’m disappointed that I was unable to see the McLaren shorts at TIFF — it was only scheduled for one screening (most festival entries have two or more screenings) and it was at a time I couldn’t make — this Thursday afternoon.

  • http://www.robotjohnny.com Johnny

    I’m disappointed that I was unable to see the McLaren shorts at TIFF — it was only scheduled for one screening (most festival entries have two or more screenings) and it was at a time I couldn’t make — this Thursday afternoon.

  • http://www.nfb.ca/animation Arthur

    Yes, the press & industry screening of McLaren’s work is indeed on thursday afternoon (5:30PM, Varsity VIP 4) but the Public Screening of BEST OF MCLAREN is coming up this Friday, Sept 8 (4:45pm, Isabel Bader theatre). “jagshemash!”

  • http://retorta.net/wordpress/index.php/2006/09/06/animacao-norman-mclaren-mega-post/ RetortaBlog » Animação – Norman McLaren mega-post

    [...] Anima̤̣o РNorman McLaren mega-post Recomenda̵̤es Article printed from RetortaBlog: http://retorta.net/wordpress URL to article: http://retorta.net/wordpress/index.php/2006/09/06/animacao-norman-mclaren-mega-post/ Tags [...]

  • http://www.nfb.ca/animation Arthur

    Yes, the press & industry screening of McLaren’s work is indeed on thursday afternoon (5:30PM, Varsity VIP 4) but the Public Screening of BEST OF MCLAREN is coming up this Friday, Sept 8 (4:45pm, Isabel Bader theatre). “jagshemash!”

  • http://www.robotjohnny.com/ Johnny

    Oops, you’re right Arthur — I meant this Friday. My mistake.

  • http://www.robotjohnny.com Johnny

    Oops, you’re right Arthur — I meant this Friday. My mistake.

  • http://www.spacejack.org/ Link

    Whee!! I feel ignorant. Begone Dull Care is amazing.

    The Picasso quote reminded me of another pretty cool film though:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rtKzp6Wk08&NR

  • http://www.spacejack.org/ Link

    Whee!! I feel ignorant. Begone Dull Care is amazing.

    The Picasso quote reminded me of another pretty cool film though:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rtKzp6Wk08&NR

  • http://www.respark.net/evn mr. robot

    extremely lovely, thanks darlings!

    this makes me want to get some old film and a projector and start messing around

  • http://www.respark.net/evn mr. robot

    extremely lovely, thanks darlings!

    this makes me want to get some old film and a projector and start messing around

  • http://www.animationapprentice.com/?p=172 Extraordinary Stop Motion at Animation Apprentice

    [...] Over the last 24 hours, I have seen three very different real life stop motion shorts. The first, Norman McLaren’s ‘A Chairy Tale’ is a virtuoso piece combining live action and brilliantly executed stop motion (via Drawn!). If you thought John Lasseter did a good job anthropomorphising an anglepoise lamp in Luxo Jr, wait until you see Evelyn Lambart animate a chair throwing a tantrum. [...]