McLaren Animation 2

The McLaren animation programme, now in its 18th year, aims to reward innovation and quality within the British animation industry. As usual, this programme is a collection of shorts from the usual suspects such as Aardman and Blackwatch/Mesh, as well as a number of graduation films and a smattering of independents. A small criticism is that because of technical barriers, shorts tend to be grouped by format, rather than programmed in a thematic order. Nevertheless, within these constraints, we can see the best of modern British animation.

The second of two programnmes at the festival, McLaren Animation 2 is more cohesive and of higher quality than the other. There are polished entries such as Roux Country, a cautionary tale about getting what you wish for; The Ill-fated Romance of the Giraffe & Ballerina, which recalls the simple drawings of Saint-Exupery, in a story of ill-fated love; and Dolls, which is one of two entries commissioned by Amnesty International to highlight human rights violations.

Amongst the more technically interesting entries, Yours Truly which recreates archetypical film noir using 3D miniatures and 2D archive photos is very effective, but pride of place goes to Adjustment, by Ian McKinnon, which deals with a flickbook diarist's attempts to cope with the breakdown with his girlfriend. Not only is it an impressive technical achievement, but in using the flickbook device as a metaphor for a personality that needs order and memory to cope, it sets itself up for an appropriate, if melancholy, finale.

Also included is Selina Cobley's Crown Moon, which is reviewed here.

Winner of the McLaren Award this year is Over The Hill, by Peter Baynton - read the review here.