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Meaningful Animation & Activist Filmmakers

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Meaningful Animation & Activist Filmmakers

Please take a moment to post any of your thoughts on this thread...

I am compiling a list of animated short films which have a political or an otherwise provocative activist message. Even films that simply inspire awe, tears, or introspection. Films that tell a meaningful personal story work too. The more diverse the animation technique the better. I'd love to find more films by minority filmmakers and filmmakers working under oppression (i.e. Eastern Europe, pre-1989). Some films in this genre are:

Amnesty International's "Universal Declaration of Human Rights"
Frederic Back's "The Man Who Planted Trees"
Norman McLaren's "Neighbors"
Michael Dudoc de Wit's "The Monk and the Fish"
Bruno Bozzetto's "Grasshoppers"
The Lowenstein Brothers' "Balance"
Mark Osborne's "More"
Stephen Palmer's "Blindscape"
Joanna Quinn's "Britannia"
Blue Sky's "Bunny"
Caroline Leaf's "The Street" and "Two Sisters"
Alexander Petrov's "The Cow"

The idea is to find meaningful animation -- animation with heart and something important to communicate. It's so easy to find collections of the bawdy, hysterical, gross films (which are great too), and so hard to just find these. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

Bruce

p.s. Also, please lsit if you know what the availability of the film is (VHS or DVD, title of compilation, etc...)

Here are some more

Hello- enjoyed your list.

Here are a few more...

PEACE ON EARTH (MGM) Harmon/Ising

Almost anything by Faith and John Hubley ( THE HOLE; THE HAT; PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE; etc.)including a Doonesbury animated special.

WHEN THE WIND BLOWS (a film about nuclear devastation)

ALLEGRO NON TROPPO has several statements on religion, politics, etc.

Ward Kimball showed me a short he did where LBJ's nose erected into a giant cannon (a Vietnam War era film).

Two of my films RUPERT'S OLYMPIC FEET and ANIMAGIC.

Thanks

This a media comment...

Since we are talking politics....

I was glad to see a concert for the tsunami fund on NBC...but it was placed very strangely.

In the CONCERT for NEW YORK after 9/11 all the networks joined in and the concert was on several channels.

The concert on NBC, a worthwhile event and star studded, was placed like counter programming against the NFL football playoffs...a very strange placement. Certainly, the networks could have worked out something...

Thanks.

Availability?

Thanks, Larry...

Do you know if "Peace on Earth" or your films are available on video?

Bruce

Another

'The BIG SNIT' by Richard Condie.

(nominated for an oscar)

I was glad to see a concert for the tsunami fund on NBC...

I got to thinking about these benefit shows after the tsunami, and it occurred to me - what are these artists contributing exactly, besides their time?

Don't get me wrong - it's nice that they're contributing their skills and efforts to a relief effort, and God bless them for that. But... what the victims need is cash and supplies, which comes primarily from the viewers and attendees of these events.

Personally, I'd like to see more celebrities follow in the footsteps of Sandy Bullock and Steven Spielberg, and come up with some cash from their own pockets. As it is, they hit the stage and play a couple of songs or do a stand up, getting huge accolades for their humanitarian efforts, while the Joe Sixpacks of the world contribute the resources that truly make a difference.

How often is it the guy who's already contributed who digs deeper into his pocket and goes unnoticed, while the celebrity gets tons of good press for a performance that contributes nothing tangible to the effort? Again, God bless them for their assistance in the relief effort. I'd just prefer to see them throw something into the pot besides their talent.

here's a few more... Hope that this will help!
"Some protection", "the stain" and "many Happy Returns" Marjut Rimminen
"Pleasures of War" Ruth Linford
"Repete" and "Words, words, words" Michaela Pavlatova
"Animal farm" Halas and Bachelor
"The hand" Jiri Trnka
"Silence" Sylvie Bringas
"Children of the Sun" Faith and John Hubley

"check it out, you know it makes sense!" http://miaumau.blogspot.com/

Treevil

I was very glad to see your notes accidentally today. I had been searching for this type of animations and I couldn’t find any after I saw one in a festival.
TREEVIL
Directors: Christer Lindstrom, Aino Ovaskainen, Aiju alminen ,6' 6",2002 ,Finland

Thanks, Larry...

Do you know if "Peace on Earth" or your films are available on video?

Bruce

Peace on Earth just got released on dvd. It's on the Warner Bros. 1939 version of A Christmas Carol.

Marv Newland's "Black Hula" - I imagine it's on a collection someplace

Just about anything from Charles and Ray Eames. They may not be tear inducing, but they were very socially/environmentally conscious. They just realeased a box set of their work (6 DVD's). You've probably seen "Powers of 10"

Producing solidily ok animation since 2001.
www.galaxy12.com

Now with more doodling!
www.galaxy12.com/latenight

It's just a short little thing but it fits your criteria

http://www.bildwurf.ch/projekte/minimotion/film.php?id=war

Bow Tie Duty for Square Heads

best animated short i've seen in years.