Short Documenatry Film About Animator Mary Ellen Bute

The National Film Preservation Board of The Library of Congress has added a film to its National Film Registry by Mary Ellen Bute called Tarantella (1940). Here’s a short documentary about this animator and her total dedication to her art. Cartoon Brew has more information about the recent additions to the Registry.

The Fabulous World of Jules Verne: 1958 Film by Karel Zeman

Czechoslovakian animator Karel Zeman made The Fabulous World of Jules Verne in 1958 and it is, without exception, the finest example of Verne on film that I have ever seen.  It is an adaptation of Verne’s novel, Facing the Flag.   The combination of live action and Mysti-Mation (sets and animation painted to look like illustrations) not only evokes the atmosphere of old book illustrations, but it evokes the visual act of imagination that happens when I read a Jules Verne book. This film is perfection. I’m somewhat distrustful of the ‘steampunk’ movement but I would certainly imagine that this film must be one of its holy grail objects of worship.  It should be for sure.  Disney could never come close to this, then or now, because they are focused solely upon happiness.

Parts 2 through 8 after the jump!

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Animation by Evan Mather: The Patron Saint of Television

Filmmaker Evan Mather made this beautiful animation about the life and visions of St. Clare of Assisi.  I had no idea that television was divinely protected.

Makes me miss that old cathode ray.

Evan Mather produces films for his Hand Crafted Films company.

This is a very sly and clever filmmaker who seems to enjoy thinking about what makes certain film genres tick.  He works with language as easily as he works with images.  There’s lots more to post from him but you can go and explore his work on his Vimeo page.