Famous choreography of a paper cut-out bird, very original, to make children discover the different parts of the body of the animals like the beak, the neck or the legs... 4 min 43 s
Experimental film, choreography between two stars of the Ballets Canadiens: ballerina Margaret Mercier and Vincent Warren. Dressed in white, the two artists dance in the dark. 13 min 34 s
The children's films we select have not been specially created for them. We propose short films that children at school or in the family do not easily have the opportunity to discover, but which are perfectly adapted to young people.
The films of the Canadian director Norman McLaren are a very good example of this.
Presentation of the director
McLaren (1914-1987), considered one of the great masters of animation, was a very inventive filmmaker. He paid particular attention to rhythm and movement and experimented with many techniques such as film scratching, film painting, live action, stop motion, pixilation and animation.
In the film "Dots", for example, he drew the images and sounds directly onto the film with a pen, without a camera or recording device.
Great master of world animation
Director and animator, Oscar winner in 1953 with the film "Voisins" (Oscar for best short documentary), a major figure in the animation scene.
He worked at the National Film Board of Canada (nfb) between 1941 and 1983 and made nearly 60 films at the forefront of cinema, infused with painting, music, dance and movement. His films were added to UNESCO's Memory of the World in 2009.
Why are Norman McLaren's films suitable for younger children?
Norman McLaren did not make his animated films for children but rather in an experimental context and his films are not narrative but plastic, musical and abstract.
However, experimental film is not incompatible with children's film and the poetry of the films is conducive to wonder and artistic awakening.
The play of colours, shapes and sounds, the originality of the music, allow the discovery of different worlds and give the children the desire to experiment.
Children's apps
The NFB has created a great application: "McLaren's Workshop".
You can watch 51 classics and 11 documentaries for free.
Children will be able to make their own animated films using the original paper elements and backgrounds created by his classic blackbird.
Did your students enjoy Norman McLaren's short films? Have you studied a film in class, an abstract animation sequence, a film about dance? Do you know other experimental filmmakers who work on rhythm, movement, the relationship between images and music? Abstract films, films about dance?
Help us discover other short films like "Pas de deux", "Boogie-Doodle" or "Le Merle"!