Tag: Animation

Welcome to TheNFB’s Hothouse 14! Showcase is Online and Fancy Free.

Hothouse is about reimagining ways of making animation—ways that are faster and more flexible, and that embrace the many possibilities of the animation process while achieving creative and technical excellence.

National Film Board of Canada LOGOThe National Film Board of Canada’s Hothouse animation apprenticeship program is a great way to see emerging talents showcase their visual design skills. It’s sometimes less about the stories presented and at other times more about what an individual can do within a medium that’s sometimes challenging to use to tell a story. What I find engaging is what each person can dream up.

Sometimes it’s just a melody and other times just an experience, and I offer a quick look at this year’s collection of works. The theme is “Small Things Considered,” where filmmakers had to consider how things grow from a germ of an idea. They’re now available to view online.

AMMA
Akash Jones

Amma - Hothouse 14I’m sure everyone can relate to this work about a youngster about to leave the nest. Although his mother means well, even I get that when too much is too much and hope that there’s time to do what you want. It’s a classic why me scenario that many will get, and hopefully this filmmaker has his peace.

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The NFB at Sommets du Cinéma D’animation 2024

There’s a lot of amazing talent to find at Sommets du Cinéma D’animation and although I’m focusing on TheNFB, there’s much more to experience during closing weekend.

The NFBSommets du Cinéma D’animation has an enormous presence at Montreal’s Sommets du Cinéma D’animation (May 6–11) with eleven productions and co-productions. With almost half being world premieres, it’s a good time to celebrate why filmmakers like animating their projects than go live-action. Sometimes, its due to what the visual arts can offer through direct symbolism.

And what I present are my takes on those works which impacted me the most. It was tough to nail a top five, so to break from the norm, I present my favourite three.

As this festival is all about celebrating why animation is wonderful. Sometimes what’s presented is heavy, and other times it’s light-hearted. There’s a bit of everything to enjoy, and for up-and-coming talents, who knows, they might find a job with a studio in town or somewhere in Europe next. Not everyone wants to work for specific studios, and to have a place to present their innovative works is important.

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TheNFB’s May Release Schedule Celebrates More Than Asian Heritage Month.

And we offer a recap on titles we reviewed some months ago, and include a look at what’s coming, our top picks and trailers of a few TheNFB works too (where available).

TheNFB National Film Board of Canada LOGOSpring is in the air, and there’s lots happening over at the National Film Board of Canada. Not only are they also celebrating Asian Heritage Month, but also recognising new talents in the medium of animation and storytelling. It’s great to see that there’s some Asian talent being recognised in this TheNFB’s Hothouse program.

Here’s a list of what’s here and coming soon:

Starting May 1
Asian Heritage Month AT THENFB

  • Following a multi-award-winning festival run, Toronto creators Thao Lam and Kjell Boersma’s animated short doc Boat People uses a striking metaphor to trace one Vietnamese family’s flight across the turbulent waters of history. Our review can be read here, and it’s a strong piece to bring awareness about those grandparents who gave up a lot to give their children, and their kids a brand new life. (disclaimer: some of the video attachments are geolocked to Canada)

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In Max Beyond, There’s No Such Thing as Infinite Lives

The idea of going back in time to change the future is nothing new, but in this take, Max Beyond seeks to locate another universe where fate isn’t prestined.

Max Beyond Alt Poster (2024)Coming to Digital Platforms on April 22

There’s a young hero in town, and his name is Max (Cade Tropeano). He can travel to alternate universes and his only desire is to stop Leon (Dave Fennoy), his big brother, from being killed in the line of duty. In the movie simply titled, Max Beyond, this former marine is determined to rescue the kid from a tech firm intent on finding out how he gained ths mutant ability–and exploit it too–but in every other world, this attempt always sees the soldier ending up dead.

However, I get the feeling that every time Max uses his mutant power, a part of him is lost to the Aether. Pretty soon, he has to consider if his life is worth sacrificing, too. This sombre animated film got me wondering why he needs his brother so bad? That’s because without him, he may well not exist at all. Just how they managed to support each other during this strange time makes up for the better part of the narrative.

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Chicken for Linda! The Crazy Quest for Who’ll Count Coup for Poulet.

I’m surprised that the young girl in Chicken For Linda! isn’t asking for other poulet flavoured meals, since a lot more can be done with the leftovers.

Chicken for Linda! movie posterGKIDS
Release Date: April 19, 2024
Please check local listings for screenings near you.

After a successful limited theatre run in New York and Los Angeles, the French animated masterpiece, Chicken for Linda! Is getting ready to be dressed for success! This hilarious slice of life film looks at everything a parent will do just to please a child. The hen is intended for slaughter, and there were times I wished it would survive. But sadly, it’s destined to be on the dinner plate for Paulette (Clotilde Hesme) and her daughter (Mélinée Leclerc). As for whether they can locate one during a labour strike, that’s going to be a challenge!

As a single mother, life is never easy. The father died when Linda was a baby. Now that she’s much older these days, she’s quite the handful! Although mom makes the mistake of blaming her kid for losing the wedding ring she still holds dear, thankfully it gets found! It turns out the family cat was the culprit!

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Chicken for Linda! is Coming to Select Theatres Beginning April 15

If you love slapstick, comedy, musican and family drama, then Chicken for Linda! is for you!

Chicken for Linda! Movie PosterChicken for Linda! the hand-painted animated drama-comedy comes to select theaters nationwide. The critically acclaimed and César and Lumières award-winning film opens in New York beginning April 5, in Los Angeles April 12, and expands to additional markets nationwide beginning April 15. The film will be released in its original French language.

This movie was additionally an official Cannes selection in the ACID program, and following a sold-out Work-in Progress session at the 2022 Annecy International Film Festival, it went on to win the Annecy Grand Cristal in 2023. The film was also awarded both the Grand Prize and Audience Award at last year’s Animation is Film Festival.

Synopsis

Paulette feels guilty after unjustly punishing her daughter Linda and would do anything to make it up to her. Linda immediately asks for a meal of chicken with peppers, which reminds her of the dish her father used to make. But with a general strike closing stores all across town and pushing people into this streets, this innocent request quickly leads to an outrageous series of events that spirals out of control, as Paulette does everything she can to keep her promise and find a chicken for Linda.

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