‘Tussilago’ By Jonas Odell

What a treat to see the latest animated documentary from Jonas Odell.

“West German terrorist Norbert Kröcher was arrested on March 31, 1977. He was leading a group planning to kidnap politician Anna-Greta Leijon. A number of suspects were arrested in the days following. One of them was Kröcher’s ex-girlfriend, “A”. This is her story.”

In this film Odell has moved away from his usual method of weaving a story from multiple interviews and instead features the story of one woman ‘A’.  The pace of storytelling is fast and this keeps up a level of dramatic intrigue, supported by cut out visuals involving some complex camera moves and transitions.

We recommend watching Odell’s past films ‘Lies’ and ‘Never Like the first time’ which have both featured on animateddocumentary.com.

This film was kindly brought to our attention by Ian Fenton – thanks Ian

https://vimeo.com/84763962

‘The History of Typography’ by Ben Barrett-Forrest

Ben Barrett-Forrest has constructed a charming introduction to the field of typography. This topic, which over the years has enthralled a certain type of graphic designer, has also left the rest of us puzzled as to what all the fuss was about.

Forrest’s short educational film provides a carefully measured level of insight; not so much detail that a newcomer to the field feels overwhelmed but enough substance to make them appreciate they are learning something.

As Ben is the only name credited in the film it is fairly safe to assume this was a solo experience. Whilst the cut out paper technique employed is engaging in its simplicity, the addition of pixillated hands certainly must have complicated the production process. The result being the film exists just beyond what one could imagine achieving single-handed.

‘The History of Typography’ has functioned as a promotional tool for Forrest Media, Ben Barrett-Forrest’s graphic design practice. The animation has received over 500 000 views on Youtube and a further 74 000 on Vimeo, as well as being featured on mainstream North American online media. It is rewarding to see how independent animation can function as a vehicle to generate business in this way.

‘Heirlooms’ by Susan Danta and Wendy Chandler

Heirlooms from Wendy Chandler on Vimeo

Recently screened as part of the animadoc programme at the Tricky Women festival, Vienna, here’s a compilation of short episodes from a series made for Australian broadcaster SBS.

In each episode a possession passed down the generations recalls memories and family histories, often of migration and war.

‘Mother of Many’ by Emma Lazenby

Mother of Many from emma lazenby on Vimeo.

A BAFTA-winning short inspired the director’s mother, who worked for many years as a midwife supporting women through pregnancy and childbirth.

Made by Bristol production company Arthur Cox for Channel 4 Television.

https://vimeo.com/29311641

‘Thembi’s Diary’ by Jisoo Kim

Recommended by Laura Heit over on our Facebook page, here’s a film made in the US from an audio diary recorded by a 19 year old South African. Beautiful textures and a lightness of approach…

http://vimeo.com/11236137

‘And We Were Young’ by Andy Smetanka

Check out the Kickstarter campaign to fund this paper cut film (to be shot on 8mm!) about American soldiers in the First World War, from US director Andy Smetanka.

Campaign here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1486916197/and-we-were-young?ref=card

Teaser and pitch here: http://laughingsquid.com/and-we-were-young-a-cut-paper-animated-documentary-about-americans-in-wwi

Good luck Andy!

‘Hysteria’ by Alys Scott Hawkins

Here’s the film I made in my first year of the Animation MA course at the Royal College of Art. The brief was to make an extremely short film, starting from the word ‘bedlam’, which led me from the history of mental health care to treatments of the medical condition hysteria in Victorian Britain.

Detailing clitoridectomy and genital massage, it is not for the faint-hearted!

http://www.alyshawkins.co.uk/hysteria

Awards: Best Film, Compass of Desire Film Festival, Bristol, U.K. 2009

‘Bun in the Oven’ by Alys Scott Hawkins

This was my first animated documentary, and the graduation film I made on the BA (Hons) Media Production course at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

An exploration of the changing forms and feelings of the female body throughout pregnancy and childbirth.

Awards:
Best Experimental Film, BAF! 2000 Bradford Animation Festival, National Museum of Photography, Film and Television 2000
Special Commendation, Royal Television Society (North East) 1999

http://www.alyshawkins.co.uk/bunintheoven