Candlelight Stories » Animation

A Colour Box: 1935 Abstract Direct Paint on Film Animation by Len Lye

Alessandro Cima — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:05:29 +0000

Len Lye’s 1935 film, ‘A Colour Box,’ was made by painting and applying dye directly to the film surface. It is apparently the first direct paint film to gain a general public release and has been widely seen ever since. The film is an odd way to advertise for cheap parcel post and this message starts popping up near the end. The cheerfully infectious music is ‘La Belle Créole’ by Don Baretto and his Cuban Orchestra. Lye’s work must have been hugely influential for the later work of direct paint filmmaker Stan Brakhage.

The Birth of the Robot: 1936 Experimental Advertising Film by Len Lye for Shell Oil Company

Alessandro Cima — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 04:54:03 +0000

In 1936, experimental filmmaker Len Lye made this short surreal animation to advertise the benefits of Shell oil for lubricating things. The film is a hyper-saturated stop-motion extravaganza that involves a mechanical world turning on some sort of hand crank. There’s an adventurer driving around the sands of Egypt. His car winds down and konks out leaving the man dead in the desert. The angel of oil rains drops of lubricating crude down on the Egyptian landscape bringing the parched skeleton to life as the Shell Oil robot. Fascinating. It’s got that awkward, shiny, naive beauty that could only be achieved in the 30s. Parts of this thing look like they might be influenced by Salvador Dali’s work. Something about that dead skeleton and the desert looks like it could fit right into the Surrealist master’s paintings.

Lye was from New Zealand and worked not only as an experimental filmmaker but also in newsreels and advertising. He was a kinetic sculptor, poet, painter and a writer of essays on artistic theory and philosphy. He made a 1935 short film called ‘A Colour Box’ which was the first generally exhibited film made by painting directly on the film emulsion. It’s a brilliant experimental animation posing as an advertisement for cheaper parcel post. I’m sure the great direct paint filmmaker Stan Brakhage must have been familiar with Lye’s work.

Here’s a gallery site with information and examples of his artwork.

The Whale Story: A Short Animated Film by Tess Martin

Alessandro Cima — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:05:27 +0000

Here’s a short animation by Tess Martin. It was animated with paint and a live actor on a public wall in Seattle.

A Subversive and Hilarious Christmas Card From Terry Gilliam

Alessandro Cima — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:27:40 +0000

Poezenklass: Christmas Cartoon by Victoria Cook – Jingle by Brian Lonano

Alessandro Cima — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:05:21 +0000

‘Poezenklaas’ is a charming short animation by Victoria Cook. The fun Christmas song is by Brian Lonano.

Via Bad Lit: The Journal of Underground Film.

The Snowman: 1982 British Cartoon Introduced by David Bowie

Alessandro Cima — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:42:32 +0000

‘The Snowman’ is a 1982 British television cartoon that has an introduction and narration by David Bowie.

Thank you to Rob Smart.

Creepy Claymation Brings Satan to Mark Twain’s Door

Alessandro Cima — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:02:16 +0000

This is a genuinely disturbing look at how you can teach your kids all about the cruel world they find themselves living in. Today’s pleasant little lesson comes courtesy of Mr. Mark Twain’s novel ‘The Mysterious Stranger‘ which had this scene adapted to claymation for the 1986 feature film, ‘The Adventures of Mark Twain.’ Satan him or herself pays an unannounced visit to Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn and Becky Thatcher so that he can show them how to build their very own little world of people and then destroy it with all the plagues and violence of mankind.

Le Crabe Aux Pinces D’or: 1947 Tintin Animation

Alessandro Cima — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:19:36 +0000

Here’s the first animated version of a Tintin story from 1947. It was directed by Claude Misonne. I am very worried by the billboards around Los Angeles for the new Spielberg film. They are just horrifically ugly. That cannot be a good sign for the movie.

Jack Frost: 1934 Ub Iwerks Animation

Alessandro Cima — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:09:37 +0000

Ub Iwerks, the creator of Micky Mouse, produced this cartoon in 1934.

Batman Confronts Occupy Wall Street

Alessandro Cima — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:37:53 +0000

Thanks to Richard Metzger at Dangerous Minds