Download a Quicktime movie clip of When the Day Breaks, Annecy's Grand Prix winner.

A dragon welcomes visitors to the Annecy International Animated Film Festival. © Odile Jacquot.

I traveled to the International Animation Film Festival in Annecy, France as a representative of the Animation Department at the School of Visual Arts, New York. When I arrived on Sunday at Geneva Airport, my experience was off to an exciting start. While looking for a bus, I saw a sign, held up by a French taxi driver, which read: "Mr. George McBean to Annecy."

I had just spoken on the telephone the previous Friday to Mr. McBean, the Communications Officer at UNICEF, about the screening in Annecy of UNICEF's cartoons for children's rights. The School of Visual Arts produced and SVA students animated two of the UNICEF spots which would be screened at Annecy, so I asked the driver to take me along as well. In addition to George McBean, an American woman was also in the taxi. She turned out to be the talented filmmaker Joan Gratz, who can make clay look like oil paint. I always tell my visual arts students about her and how much I admire her films. So, I asked to interview her, and invited her to come to New York and speak to my SVA students, to which she agreed!

On Monday I went to the Bonlieu to pick up my press pass and get my mail box. Joan Gratz was there too, so we went to the café in front of the Bonlieu Theatre. As we sat, waiting for a waiter, a French man joined us. Joan introduced him as Michel Ocelot, the president of ASIFA International. Michael Ocelot had recently finished his animated feature film Kirikou and the Sorceress, which was going to be screened the following morning. It was a great pleasure to meet the filmmaker even before seeing his film.

The Festival
The opening event of the film festival was dedicated to Japanese Animation. We watched a screening of Princess Mononoke, a 1997 feature film by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli. The film was fantastic; I was especially impressed with the incredible cinematic staging, specifically the use of dramatic angle shots and perspective. In the theatre lobby, there was an exhibit of artwork and posters from Princess Mononoke, as well as other Japanese animated films. The exhibit included a 26 field set-up for a multiplane background. I found it unusual and refreshing to view the artwork for the backgrounds.

Kirikou and the Sorceress won the prize for best animated feature. Courtesy of Les Armateurs.

On Tuesday I went to the screening of Michel Ocelot's Kirikou and the Sorceress. It was by far the best animated feature film ever made. The story, design, and animation were synthesized beautifully, creating such a deep impact that it brought me to tears.

After the screening, I told Michel Ocelot that I don't usually cry at animated films. He then informed me that the BBC unfortunately would not show his film because the women in it are bare breasted and the children are nude. Michel pointed out that he illustrated the film in this way because it is an African tale and he wished to depict African culture accurately. I later found out that Michel Ocelot grew up in Africa. I believe this film must be very close to his heart, and I was saddened that the BBC is refusing to show this groundbreaking and powerful film.

Later that day I saw the short film program. I most enjoyed The Albatross by Paul Bush of Great Britain. The film was well paced and retained the integrity of the poem upon which it is based. Bush used an extremely interesting technique to create his film, scratching into the negatives to create a woodcut quality. Dowager's Feast by Joan Gratz was also shown at this program. She used her clay painting technique in creating the film, which is, as always, a visual treat.

That evening I attended the premiere of UNICEF's Cartoons for Children's Rights. Featured were 37 spots from 25 countries, including the two aforementioned films animated by School of Visual Arts' students and produced by the school. These films were titled, "Exercising the Right to Protection Breaks the Cycle of Abuse," and "Hygiene Spot." I was extremely pleased to see our students' films chosen for this program.