Who says Christmas has to be over? In Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, the beloved titular villain and his loyal dog, Max, live a solitary existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. His main source of frustration comes during Christmastime when his neighbours in Whoville celebrate the holidays with a bang. When the Whos decide to make… [Read More]
The Mystery of Wine: 1on1 with John Meyer (THE MAGICAL MYSTERY OF MUSIGNY)
Winner of the award for Best Story from the Los Angeles Animation Film Festival, The Magical Mystery of Musigny is a short film that tells the story of John, a man whose life has been irrevocably altered by sipping a glass of Musigny wine. However, because his experience is so powerful, he struggles to communicate its… [Read More]
The Magical Mystery of Musigny: Mysterious Community
Winner of the award for Best Story from the Los Angeles Animation Film Festival, The Magical Mystery of Musigny is a short film that tells the story of John, a man whose life has been irrevocably altered by sipping a glass of Musigny wine. However, because his experience is so powerful, he struggles to communicate its… [Read More]
Elliot the Littlest Reindeer: Move Over, Rudolph
When Blitzen suddenly announces his retirement from Santa’s elite team of reindeer, Santa needs to find a replacement. Filled with dreams of pulling the famed sleigh, Elliot the pony and his best friend, Hazel the goat, set out to prove that he is the horse for the job. As Elliot and Hazel take on the… [Read More]
Animation is Film 17: Virus Tropical
Adapted from the graphic novel memoir by Colombian-Ecuadorian cartoonist Power Paola, Virus Tropical follows the story of a young girl in Ecuador named Paola, as she grows and matures from infancy to striking out on her own as a young adult. Raised by a mostly single mother, Paola struggles through her relationships with family, friends and… [Read More]
Animation is Film 17: Tehran Taboo
Directed by expat Iranian filmmaker Ali Soozandeh, Tehran Taboo tells the stories of three strong-willed women who cross paths in Tehran’s divided society where sex, corruption, and drugs coexist with strict religious laws and patriarchal traditions. Through rotoscoping technology, its use of real actors provides genuine depth to the characters yet the animation also provides a safe… [Read More]
The Red Turtle – Mythic, Poetic Story of Humanity
It is rare that a film can seem to be poetry, and that may be even more difficult when the film has no dialogue. Yet The Red Turtle manages to be just that.
AFIFest – Animation Sandwich
Yesterday I had a really interesting sandwich: a dark brooding film from one of my favorite Romanian directors placed between two animated films.
The Little Prince – The Value of Childhood
Yes, it’s a children’s story. Yes, it’s animated. And yes, it may make you want to be a child again. Hopefully you’ll remember how to do that.
Finding Dory – Finding a Way to a Forgotten Home
Like Odysseus, Dory is on a journey to get home. The difference is that Odysseus knew where he was going. Dory is just following a longing for the family she remembers she once had.
