European Animation

Throughout Europe, a vast range of animation mediums are found. Each country has its own characteristics and strenghts. eastern European countries are particularly recognised for stop-motion and puppet animation, such as Czech Republic's animator Jiri Trnka. Whereas western European countries like France and Germany are often framed for their cell animation or film.

Allegro non troppo Valse Triste-Bruno Bozzetto





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Oc_J1Lu-o

"Allegro non troppo "by Italian animator Bruno Bozetto has been compared to Disneys "Fantasia",

Allegro non troppo ( a musical term meaning "lively, but not too much") has been described as a parody of Disney's Fantasia. In many ways, however, it is not comparable in either parody or style to the Disney masterpiece. Allegro non Troppo stands on its own by expanding the technique of blending music perfectly with the animated art. (Animation Art, P 254)

The animation in the sequence "Valse Triste" shows a mixture of techniques, the cat and its surroundings are animated in traditional hand-drawn animation while the ghosts of its masters are filmed in live action. The piece is filled with emotion, combining a burst of colour and music with the explosion of memories conjured up throughout the sequence.

Le Roi et L'oiseau- Paul Grimault





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sg6qzpa_wc

Paul Grimault is a famous name in animation throughout France and the rest of the world. His work before the war mainly consisted of short animated commercials but he then began animating theatrical pieces such as "Les Passagers de la Grande Ourse"(1941) and "Le Petit Soldat" (1947)

The film "Le roi et L'oiseau" was previously released earlier as the film La Bergère et le Ramoneur (1952). The earlier film was released unfinished due to many difficulties and problems arising throughout production,

"The whole production experienced a particularly turbulent journey. This was due to many factors: pre-completion hype, spiraling production costs, delays and a court case declaring that director, Paul Grimault, who had worked on the film for three years, be removed from the project."(Animation Art, P170) ]

Grimault was later able to complete the animation as he had envisioned it, completly re-animating the feature film.

The development of the individual characteristics of the animal figures in the story is crucial to the progression of the story. The mocking bird, for example acts as a narrator at the beginning and performs a crucial role as a guide and a rescuer.

There is an interesting play on the role of animation film making. The characters who are painted in the portrait come to life and replace the main characters in the animation, thereby drawing attention to the idea of fantasy taking over reality to create a more imaginative sequence.

The setting of the animation is based within an intricately designed castle city, made up of different layers, houses and columns. Modern devices are placed within older architecture creating humour and surprises throughout the setting. There seem to also be a class system within the castle, with the royalty and nobility at the top of the castle and the lowest class based within the dark underground barely remembering what sunlight was like. This idea may reference the periods before and during the French revolution.