Within the world of animation, most experimentation occurs within short format productions, whether they be high-budgeted commercials, low-budgeted independent shorts or something in between. The growing number of short film festivals around the world attest to the vitality of these works, but there are few other venues for exhibition of them or even written reviews. As a result, distribution tends to be difficult and irregular. On a regular basis, Animation World Magazine will highlight some of the most interesting with short, descriptive overviews.

If you have the QuickTime plug-in, you can view a clip from each film by simply clicking the image.

This Month:

Maanvis (Moonfish) (2002), 7 min., directed by Isabel Bouttens, Belgium. Email: Isabel.bouttens@skynet.be. Web: users.skynet.be/isabel.bouttens

I’m a Star! (2002), 6 min., directed by Stefan Stratil, Austria. Email: Stefan.stratil@evolver.at Web: www.frankieboy.at

How To Cope With Death (2002), 3 min., 10 sec., directed by Ignacio Ferregras, Spain. Info: Lynn Hollowell, Tandem Films Entertainment, 26 Cross Street, Islington, London, N1 2BG, UK. Tel: 44 (0) 20.7688.1717; Fax: 44 (0) 20.7688.1718. Email: lynn@tandemfilms.com Web: www.tandemfilms.com

How Mermaids Breed (2002), 9 min., 41 sec., directed by Joan Ashworth, UK. Info: Martin Greaves, Seed Fold Films, 13, Addington Square, London SE5 7JZ. Tel/Fax: 44 (0)20.7701. Email: seedfold.films@zen.co.uk Web: www.joanashworth.com

Chainsmoker (2002), 4 min., 4 sec., directed by Ulf Lundgren, Sweden. Email: Kp96uln@hotmail.com

Maanvis (Moonfish) is filled with dreamlike, haunting images. © Isabel Bouttens.

Maanvis (Moonfish)
Maanvis (Moonfish) (2002) is a tasty mood piece by Belgian animator Isabel Bouttens. A moonfish, a crescent moon and a woman in a bathing suit on a pier all flit about in pastels on a black background as the woman meditates on the fish and its seeming ability to devour and re-conjure the moon inside its glass bowl. With only an occasional ripple of water to clue the viewer, an underwater environment gives way to a fresh air environment, which melts into images reflected in the ocean. It’s dark outside, yet all objects are well lit — you’ve had this dream. The woman wants the moon, and she sets her fish free and dives into the darkness to get it. There are many haunting images here: not least of which a reflectionless moon rising from the bottom of the sea and splitting in two, as it and its reflection flee the horizon in opposite directions.

The piece originated with Bouttens’ pencil drawings, which she scanned and colored using Toonz 2D cel animation software. The drawings were printed on tainted brown paper and applied with pastels before being filmed on an Oxberry stand with additional glycerin water effects. The seven-minute film was produced at the KASK Hogeschool, Ghent, where it was Bouttens’ graduation project. Half of a film’s impact is always sound, and mention should be made of the music by Annelies Van Parys, an aleatoric work for wind ensemble that drives the film along with bursts of microtonal lines over deep-fathom drones. The music is the work’s only soundtrack. (Recommended)