AWN’s Chris Robinson weighs in on all those disgusting breasts suddenly appearing in contemporary independent animation, comparing Rune Spaans and Dave Cooper’s ‘The Absence of Eddy Table’ with Job, Joris & Marieke’s ‘Otto.’
‘The Absence of Eddy Table’ by Rune Spaans and Dave Cooper.
Forgive me for my confusion, but there’s seems to be so many hurt souls these days that I can’t quite figure out just what is or isn’t offensive. Take a couple of recent animation shorts, The Absence of Eddy Table (Rune Spaans… but designed and written by Dave Cooper) and Otto (that trio from The Netherlands whose names I don’t feel like typing out right now). Eddy Table is apparently mildly distasteful because there are women in the film who have big breasts. Really? You’re kidding, right? Now, there are other reasons to dislike this film, but breast size is not among them. Maybe it’s too grotesque or ugly for you.
Personally my problem is with the wimp-ass male protagonist who gives up his identity for a woman. What the hell kind of message is that? Yeah, I get the whole “Dante lost-in-the-forest till he meets Beatrice” scenario… but the idea that you give up your identity, your self, your being… for someone else…that’s a bit scary. Love is two halves of a whole or some shit like that. You (man, woman or squirrel) don’t forsake your BE for anything. Oh…but…yes… the breasts. First off, this is Cooper’s style. He likes fleshy ladies (like many other artists, including Rubens). Secondly, umm… not sure if you’re aware but there are women who have above-average sized breasts. If Cooper’s art is sexist, then should we not then be protesting and imprisoning all ample-bosomed women as well?
Speaking of which… let’s turn our attention to Otto from this cutesy, “we’re trying to be a cozy brand” trio from the land of “a schmoke and a pancake.” On the surface, a very original, genial, audience friendly film aimed at pleasing every being on earth and beyond. Look closer though… watch the mother… see those smaller than average breasts? See how they jiggle in each and every shot? I dare you not to notice that now. That in itself is not offensive (women’s breasts do frequently bounce about whilst in motion) … Problem I have is that there doesn’t seem to be the same attention to detail given to the father (admittedly, he’s initially a bit of a doof, but still…come on… the guy’s hurting too). Okay… maybe he had an accident on a construction site and lost his goods. I get it. Believe me. Still… why the need to ensure that the breasts bounce in every scene in a film dealing with loss/grief?
So kids, tell me just why Eddy Table is potentially sexist/inappropriate while Otto has not garnered a whisper of criticism? Is it a symptom of a society that is uneasy with big bosoms?
Help me understand… for the sake of the children… you know the ones whose first nutrients were suckled from those same offensive b(r)easts.
A well-known figure in the world of independent animation, writer, author & curator Chris Robinson is the Artistic Director of the Ottawa International Animation Festival.
