Animation Show 3, The (2006)

Carved open bunny!

Genre: Animation Shorts (UK, USA, France)

Compiled By: Don Hertzfeldt (The Animation Show 2005!), Mike Judge (Office Space • Beavis And Butt Head Do America)

Overview: The third animation shorts compilation by these guys, it showcases animators from around the world.

Having enjoyed the last one, The Animation Show 2005!, I quickly ensured that my week would include a visit to my favorite theater for this enjoyable event.

We began with Mike Judge's Opening Remarks by Butt-Head. We watch Butt-Head introduce the films in a smoking jacket sitting by the fire, as Beavis titters like a jackal saying "Fire, fire!" This invited the question, "When will these two die?"

The thankfully short segment thrusts us into my favorite of all the shorts, Rabbit by Run Wrake (above). The style smacks of 50s educational books, yet tells a far more sinister tale of greed, as the children find that the idol resting in the belly of a rabbit transforms pesky bugs into precious gems. The silent tale is accompanied with a perfect musical score, and was a fantastic send off.

Next is the highly-stylized mesh of live action, 2D and 3D animation, City Paradise by Gaelle Denis. The tale is cute and simply told, and though not story-heavy, was very enjoyable to watch.

Don Hertzfeldt's Everything Will Be OK is a most welcome addition to the collection. Another of my favorites, this creative and entertaining story comically explores suburban ennui with a healthy dose of dream and fantasy. Simply because Don is one of the producers, he still comes through with making one of the best shorts of the bunch.

Collision was next, directed by Max Hattler. As I entered the theater, I overheard someone say, "There's this one that looks like a Fruitopia commercial, not so great." I turned to one of my guest after watching this interesting kaleidoscopic montage of different American and Islamic colour schemes clashing to the sounds of explosions to see if they enjoyed this comment on the 'War Of Terrorism' as much as I did, and was surprised when I only received a shrug. Perhaps the venue was the problem with this one. I think it would do better in an experimental festival.

9 by Shane Acker (below) was the most beautiful of spectacles, a tale of a soul-sucking monster that roams a post-apocalyptic-looking wasteland in search of the few remaining survivors, who in turn are trying to kill this nightmare. God. See this.

Oury Atlan directed an avant-garde little tale called Overtime. It's pretty, it's weird, and it's all about these guys on the left playing marionette with a dead man, a celebration of life if you will.

No Room for Gerold by Daniel Nocke is the sort of film that takes a script, shoots it, then makes it into an animation, with a rhino, a hippo and other telling the alligator that they can't live with them anymore. I found it cute enough, but it seemed somehow forced, as though you know it was a live action first.

Game Over by PES was incredible. This ultra-low-budget nostalgic look at games like Pac-Man, Frogger and Space Invaders just goes to show that embracing the stop-motion medium with cheap props and a good idea can still get you noticed.

I found Remi Chaye's Eaux Forte to be well drawn but this silent montage of a person living through a dreamlike flood to be uninspired. Sorry.

Guide Dog, directed by Bill Plympton was all too close to his last entry, Guard Dog. Even if this was done on purpose in tribute... to himself... I'd much rather have preferred something fresh.

There was one film that is not mentioned even on the Animation Show 3 official program: Davey and Son of Goliath. One of my guests mentioned that this familiar looking stop-motion was on "Mad TV" many moons ago, 1996 to be precise. I'm not sure why the producers chose this early film to be included. No matter how appropriate and amusing it is - and a boy killing couples because his conscience in the form of a dog tells him he needs to cleanse the world is certainly in the vein of the show - I'm of the opinion that the shorts in this film should be new, or at least new to audiences. Something that was on TV 10 years ago doesn't really cut it for me.

Finally, Dreams and Desires: Family Ties by Joanna Quinn was a weak finish to the fest, with only odd hand-drawn angles as the visual temptation to a story of an old, fat British lady fumbling around a wedding with a diharetic dog. This quirky Brit comedy was more like a lame Polioed child.

9 is the number of awesomeness

Overall Rating: 78% (Left A Little Riled Up For Sure)

Aftertaste:

There's no greater disappointment than hearing that something you love is being cancelled. When I heard the ByTowne was less than impressed at the turnout this year for the Animation Show, they announced that they would most likely not hold it again. Have no fear! I checked my online DVD rental service and I see that the two previous Animation Shows are available, so I'm sure they will continue to be produced on DVD even if they don't come to my town, thought I hope they keep it.