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More Animation Greats |
List Price: $24.99
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Reviews |
Features:
Description:
These shorts from the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) illustrate how animated films can be used to present information in a concise, entertaining form. Prepared in conjunction with UNICEF's Declaration of Children's Rights, the Oscar-winning short "Every Child" (1979) deftly blends hilarity and pathos. A small child is passed from household to household, like an unwanted fruitcake at holiday time, by individuals who coo over it, then dispose of it. Using only sounds and drawings, the film makers satirize the hypocrisy of people who simply adore children--until they become inconvenient. "Hot Stuff" (1971) traces the history of mankind's relationship with fire, from the first caveman to a bickering modern couple, whose ignorance of safety rules sets off a major conflagration. Fire safety is also one of the subjects covered in "The Old Lady's Camping Trip" (1983). This crafty woman demonstrates the simple precautions needed to ensure no one comes to harm on an outdoor excursion--even careless Cousin Jim. "Every Dog's Guide" (1986) offers faster-paced and even funnier lessons. Wally, a thoroughly professional canine, strives to keep an addle-pated couple and their baby from suffering the consequences of their carelessness. Not all the films attain this level of excellence. A rather pedestrian example of stop-motion animation, "64 Million Years Ago" (1981), looks hopelessly outdated after the high-tech creatures in Jurassic Park. Similarly, Michael Mills's pleasantly silly "Evolution" (1971) has been eclipsed by the uproarious "Bolero" section of Bruno Bozzetto's Allegro Non Troppo. "Cactus Swing" (1995) is a cute but pointless evocation of two-step country-western music. Despite these caveats, "More!" is a disc well worth owning: the hilarious animation of the dog suffering from sibling rivalry in "Every Child" alone is worth the price. --Charles Solomon
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