Katherin McInnis used 2D/3D animation and other media to make the short documentary, Model Prisoner, which follows a death row inmate. © Katherin McInnis.

The short documentary, Model Prisoner, uses downloaded data, archival footage, original video, as well as 2D and 3D animation to examine how Death Row inmate Joseph Paul Jernigan became the subject of the Visible Human Project: 1,871 cross-sectional images of the human body used to generate a virtual cadaver. A graduate of the MFA program in Film and Video at California College of the Arts, director/animator/editor Katherin McInnis used Final Cut Pro, After Effects and Cinema 4D.

Monster Road explores the world of clay animator Bruce Bickford (left photo). Filmmakers Brett Ingram and Jim Haverkamp (left to right) accept the Best Documentary Feature prize with Bickford at Slamdance. Monster Road © 2004 Bright Eye Pictures; photo by Alex Maness; Award photo by Bob Bayless.

Monster Road won the Slamdance 2004 Grand Jury Sparky Award for Best Documentary Feature. Filmmakers Brett Ingram (producer/director/dp/editor) and Jim Haverkamp (producer/editor) collaborated on this film that explores the fantastic world of legendary underground clay animator Bruce Bickford whose dark clay animations for Frank Zappa in the 1970s brought him worldwide cult status. Ingram is a former rocket engineer whose short animations and documentaries have screened at more than 100 festivals and museums internationally. Haverkamp teaches film and video production at Wake Forest University.

It is obvious that creatively abounds, aided by new tools make the process faster and cheaper. Festivals like Slamdance — which continues its mission of showcasing emerging filmmakers — supply the screening venues. The opportunity for a renaissance in animation has never seemed better.

Mary Ann Skweres is a filmmaker and freelance writer. She has worked extensively in feature film and documentary post-production with credits as a picture editor and visual effects assistant. She is a member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild.