See just one of the many styles of FilmTecknarna in this loop depicting the duality of parenting from Revolver. All images courtesy of FilmTecknarna, unless otherwise noted.

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Formed in 1981 by Jonas Odell, Stig Berqvist and Lars Ohlson, the Swedish animation studio, FilmTecknarna has developed into one of the most respected and innovative animation companies in the world. FilmTecknarna have merged a low and high end mixed media aesthetic to produce a visually exciting body of work that includes award-winning commercials for a variety of clients (Madonna's Music video, Boddington's Cream Ale, MTV, Cartoon Network) along with a unique body of personal films (Revolver, Exit) that have received wide acclaim from international film festivals.

While FilmTecknarna has no consistent graphic style, there is a distinctive humour and rhythm to their work. "The studio," says Odell, "is made up of individuals with distinctly different approaches, but I do think there are things you recognize from film to film." Diverse films such as The Man Who Thought With His Hat, Dawning, Exit, Revolver and Otto, all feature a unique combination of surrealism, social commentary and black comedy. Many of the films are situated in suburban working class environments. Within these seemingly average spaces we find a darker and often humorous world.

Exit's more classic looking animation.

The Short Films
The studio's first film, The Man Who Thought With His Hat, was, like most Swedish animated films, adapted from a children's story. "We thought that was what you had to make," says Odell. "We found a children's book that we liked and bought the rights (the author didn't want any money, but insisted that we draw characters with five fingers on each hand). The producer at the film institute was actually looking for someone to adapt this author's work to film. I still like the story, but the film definitely isn't 'us.'"

Although The Man Who Thought With His Hat certainly contains a number of elements usually found in a children's story, the film is a decidedly adult tale that examines class and power while suggesting that social attitudes are inherited not natural. The film follows an oppressive President who does his decision making with a hat. The society he has created is one of conformity and repression. One day, the wind blows the hat away and the President loses his ability to think. After a rather bizarre interlude between the hat and some animals, a small boy returns the hat to the President, but teaches him how to think without it.