The Corners are Glowing: Selected Writings from the Ottawa International Animation Festival

267 Pages·2022·3.135 MB·English

by  Chris Robinson, Tom McSorley

The Corners Are Glowing
The Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) began in 1976 and
stands today as one of the oldest and largest animation events in the
world. One of the unique features of the OIAF is the inclusion of com-
missioned writings that provide attendees with a more in-depth back-
ground into the festival’s special screenings. These writings have not
only contextualized the festival presentations but have also contributed
significantly to animation education and scholarship.
The Corners are Glowing is a selection of the best writings (many
unseen for decades) culled from past OIAF catalogues. These wide-
ranging texts cover the spectrum of animation from the familiar (Daffy
Duck, Pee Wee Herman, Bob Clampett, Joanna Quinn, Hiyao Miyazaki,
Frank Tashlin) to the more esoteric (Robert Breer, Emily Pelstring, Taku
Furukawa, Michael Sporn, and even the use of furniture in animation!).
The Corners are Glowing is a valuable time capsule that celebrates
animation’s past and present, and the styles of writing are as diverse,
enlightening, and fun as the animation subjects being written about.

The Corners Are Glowing
Selected Writings from the Ottawa
International Animation Festival
Edited by
Chris Robinson
Tom McSorley
First Edition published 2023
by CRC Press
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© 2023 selection and editorial matter, Chris Robinson and Tom McSorley; individual chapters, the
contributors
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ISBN: 978-1-032-26379-3 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-26377-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-28802-2 (ebk)
DOI: 10.1201/9781003288022
Typeset in Minion
by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
Contents
Author Bio, ix
INTRODUCTION, 1
Chapter 1 ◾ In Search of Raoul Barré (1976) 3
by andre Martin
Chapter 2 ◾ The Importance of Being Fischinger (1976) 21
by WilliaM Moritz
Chapter 3 ◾ Segundo de Chomon: Spanish Magician (1978) 33
by Carlos Fernandez CuenCa
Chapter 4 ◾ German Animation Pioneers (1988) 41
by louise beaudet
Chapter 5 ◾ The Evolution of Daffy Duck (1988) 47
by Mark langer
Chapter 6 ◾ Frame by Frame: Animated Commercials
1920–1990 (1990) 53
by louise beaudet
Chapter 7 ◾ The Personal Side of Ernest Pintoff, Filmmaker 59
by Maureen Furniss, ph.d.
Chapter 8 ◾ Drawing on Both Sides of Their Brains (1996):
The Art and Careers of Derek Lamb and Kaj
Pindal 67
by MarC glassMan
v
vi ◾ Contents
Chapter 9 ◾ A Taste of Tashlin (1998) 79
by Mark langer
Chapter 10 ◾ The Animation of MTV (1999) 85
by kelly neall
Chapter 11 ◾ Phil Mulloy: An Appreciation (2001) 89
by riChard Meltzer
Chapter 12 ◾ Rex, Epicurus and Me: The Search for
Pleasure (2001) 93
by Chris robinson
Chapter 13 ◾ Narrow Roads: The Wor (ks) (lds) (ds) of Taku
Furukawa 97
by tina paas
Chapter 14 ◾ Piotr Dumala: Notes from Underground
(2002) 103
by toM MCsorley
Chapter 15 ◾ Janie Geiser’s Uncanny Silence (2002) 109
by barry doyle
Chapter 16 ◾ The Fecal and the Feral: John Kricfalusi,
Theme & Variation (2002) 113
by riChard Meltzer
Chapter 17 ◾ Ominous Beauty: The Animation of
Jean-Francois Laguionie (2003) 119
by toM MCsorley
Chapter 18 ◾ The Wage Of Mersh, The Fart Of Art: Oscar
Grillo In The 21st Century (2003) 123
by riChard Meltzer
Chapter 19 ◾ Miyazaki Magic (2004) 129
by Mark langer
Contents   ◾   vii
Chapter 20 ◾ Robert Breer: Dadanimator (2004) 137
by george griFFin
Chapter 21 ◾ Transforming Realities: The Work of Co
Hoedeman (2004) 141
by barry doyle
Chapter 22 ◾ Animating Pee-wee’s Playhouse (2005) 145
by Chris robinson
Chapter 23 ◾ Bob Clampett at Warner Bros. (2006) 151
by Mark langer
Chapter 24 ◾ Showing Scher (2006) 159
by riChard o’Connor
Chapter 25 ◾ Bawdy Politics: The Animation of
Joanna Quinn (2007) 163
by toM MCsorley
Chapter 26 ◾ Dušan Vukotić – A Canonical Modernist of
Animated Film (2007) 167
by hrvoje turković
Chapter 27 ◾ Saul Steinberg and Animation (2007) 173
by george griFFin
Chapter 28 ◾ Don’t Throw Out Your Television: The
Works of Christopher Mills (2008) 181
by jerrett zaroski
Chapter 29 ◾ There’s a Party in My Tummy: The Yo
Gabba Gabba Revolution (2008) 187
by Chris robinson
Chapter 30 ◾ Jonas Odell: Revolver Bang! Bang! (2008) 191
by toM MCsorley
Chapter 31 ◾ Michael Sporn (2008) 195
by riChard o’ Connor
viii ◾ Contents
Chapter 32 ◾ Jim Blashfield: “And Things Were Looking
Like a Movie” (2009) 199
by riChard o’Connor
Chapter 33 ◾ Stan Vanderbeek (2009) 203
by aMid aMidi
Chapter 34 ◾ Furniture of My Mind (2010) 209
by george griFFin
Chapter 35 ◾ The Genius of Osamu Tezuka (2010) 215
by toM MCsorley
Chapter 36 ◾ Decoding Narrative: The Animated World of
Gil Alkabetz (2011) 219
by Madi piller and patriCk jenkins
Chapter 37 ◾ Don’t Stop: Animating Hip Hop (2011) 223
by Marley rosen
Chapter 38 ◾ Remembering Karen Aqua (2012) 227
by keltie dunCan With ken Field
Chapter 39 ◾ Unseen Forces: A Spotlight on Emily
Pelstring (2020) 231
by keltie dunCan
Chapter 40 ◾ Flannel Fever Dream: The Films of Mike
Maryniuk (2021) 237
by devin hartley
INDEX, 243
Author Bio
Chris Robinson is a Canadian writer and author. He is also the Artistic
Director of the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF) and is a
well-known figure in the animated film world and was recently given the
2020 award for Outstanding Contribution to Animation Studies by the
World Festival of Animation Film - Animafest Zagreb.
Robinson has been called “one of the stylistically most original and
most provocative experts in the history of animation. He made a name
for himself with a unique and eclectic magazine column Animation Pimp,
which became a book of the same name (the column was later renamed
into Cheer and Loathing in Animation).
Mastering different methods and styles in critical and scholarly
approaches, Robinson covers a broad range of Canadian and global sub-
ject matters in his books Estonian Animation: Between Genius and Utter
Illiteracy, Unsung Heroes of Animation, Canadian Animation: Looking
for a Place to Happen, Ballad of a Thin Man: In Search of Ryan Larkin,
Animators Unearthed, Japanese Animation: Time out of Mind and Mad
Eyed Misfits: Writings on Indie Animation.
In addition to his writing on animation, Robinson also wrote the award-
winning animated short, Lipsett Diaries (2010) directed by Theodore
Ushev.
Currently, Robinson is writing two books on animation and is work-
ing with German artist, Andreas Hykade, on My Balls Are Killing Me, a
graphic novel about his experience with cancer. He is also collaborating
with Theodore Ushev on a live action feature film, Drivin’.
Tom McSorley is Executive Director of the Canadian Film Institute. He is
also an Adjunct Research Professor of Film Studies at Carleton University,
and the film critic for CBC Radio One’s “Ottawa Morning.”
ix