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:

Boys Night Out (2003), 5:55 minutes, directed by Bert Klein and Teddy Newton, U.S. Co-produced by Jennifer Cardon Klein and Barry John O’Donoghue. Email: barleyfilms@hotmail.com; jencardonklein@yahoo.com

Ward 13 (2003), 14:50 minutes, directed by Peter Cornwell, Australia. Trepuine Productions, in association with the Australian Film Commission. Web: www.ward13.com.au

Boxed In (2002), 5:20 minutes, directed by Will Becher, U.K. Produced by Donald Holwill for Edinburgh College of Art. Address: Edinburgh College of Art, 74 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DF Scotland, UK. Phone: +441312216135. Fax: +441312216115. Email: will_becher@hotmail.com; d.holwill@mail1.eca.ac.uk.

Cane Toad (2002), 3:57 minutes, directed and produced by Andrew Silke and David Clayton, Australia. Address: Andrew Silke, 9/5 Stanley Street, Randwick, 2031, NSW, Australia.

Oola Oop Dîner (2003), 3:38 minutes, directed and produced by Carolle-Shelley Abrams, U.K. Email: carolleshelley@beingbeautiful.net. Website: www.beingbeautiful.net

Stepfather and son figure out how to have a good time in Boys Night Out. © Teddy Newton/Bert Klein.

Boys Night Out
Boys Night Out is a spiffy little retro chunk of eye candy, with both its setting and its UPA-influenced style very much of the Eisenhower era. It’s Mom’s bible study night, and that means Dad and little Linberg are on their ownsie-wownsie until she returns. Dad is actually step dad Chet, and Linberg isn’t sure he wants to while away the evening with this interloper until Chet suggests they sneak out and have a little fun while the missus is away.

The first clue that this isn’t going to be a trip to the ballpark comes when Chet fits out Linberg in a stocking cap, and smears schmutz from the tailpipe on the child’s face to simulate five o’clock shadow. Then they’re off — to a nautically-themed gentleman’s club, where the 21-and-over crowd sips drinks and ogles exotic dancers. Linberg soon comes face-to-face with the concepts of firewater, starfish-covered breasts and men of the cloth after hours.

The six-minute short is traditionally animated, and, in addition to UPA, the filmmakers cite influences from classic Disney animators Ward Kimball and Freddy Moore. Eric Goldberg’s stylistic thumbprints are visible too; the director of the Rhapsody in Blue and Carnival of the Animals segments of Fantasia/2000 was co-animator on the short. The piece was independently financed by the directors in cooperation with Barley Films Ltd., and was completed piecemeal in the United States, Ireland and New Zealand. It was directed by Terry Newton, a Disney/Warners/Pixar storyman, and Bert Klein, a Disney/Warners/WETA Digital animator. Boys Night Out is a nominee for the 2003 Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Animation for Short Subject.