Mr. Resistor - Mark Gustafson (1994)

Sr. Resistencia

Sin Diálogos / No Dialogue

Desde lo alto de un bombillo eléctrico situado en un sótano, desciende por un cable de alta tensión Mr. Resistor, una inquieta criatura hecha de transistores y cables. En su frenesí, esta criatura encontrará un trofeo cuyos brazos llaman su atención, decidiendo cortarlos; hecho que traerá consigo problemas con otros trofeos, ya que éstos intentarán recuperar a toda costa los brazos robados.
 

"In a basement, Mr. Resister, who's made out of wires and spare parts, appears at the end of an electric wire. He sees a bowling trophy and cuts off the arms of the bowler atop. The bowler gives chase, organizing other trophies to join the hunt. Mr. Resistor falls into and escapes from various traps, including being caught in a mouse trap and, with the help of his power cord, turning it into a motorized cart. The trophies keep attacking, but Mr. Resistor stays a step ahead. In the background is an plaster Greek statue, a man without arms. Mr. Resistor, the bowling man's arms, and the Greek statue are headed for catharsis."

(IMDb)

"(...) One of the stars of this new phase was Mr Resistor, a stop-motion puppet consisting of wire appendages, a shock of white hair and, of course, a resistor. Supported by a wire umbilical cord, Mr. Resistor was originally conceived by a long-time Vinton protégé, director Mark Gustafson as just an exercise in animation, but the film proved so interesting that it spawned a sequel, Bride of Resistor, which was even more gothic in its concept. (...)"

(Will Vinton.net)

 

"While Will Vinton and the studio carrying his name are best known for Claymation (a term coined and either copyrighted or service marked by Vinton, but also a good general description of the animation style), the studio and/or Vinton does occasionally produce works directed by others in other styles. The Creation is an excellent example. Mr. Resistor is yet another. Using stop-motion, this is a much more serious piece than the typical Vinton release, though there are some humorous touches. Anyone looking for a pile of giggles is apt to be disappointed. But the short is engaging, the animation is top-notch and the production values are up to the usual high standards. As Vinton was shown the door (abruptly and rather unceremoniously) earlier this year, by the partner who recently acquired a larger interest in the studio, also this year, it's highly unlikely that much effort will be expended on less profitable things such as short animation, which is sad, because you can test out ideas and techniques in short films first, without the financial risks inherent in features. Part of the reason Disney was so financially successful early on was the success they had in training crews on shorts and learning what worked (and didn't) an the smaller (comparatively cheaper) projects. I hope I'm wrong, because animated shorts are an art form in and of themselves and the Will Vinton Studios were very good at them. Recommended." 

Robert Reynolds (IMDb)

 

  

LINKS

https://rapidshare.com/files/1811759097/1994Mr.Resistor.M.Gustafson.www.nplus2.org.part1.rar

https://rapidshare.com/files/1136230645/1994Mr.Resistor.M.Gustafson.www.nplus2.org.part2.rar

https://rapidshare.com/files/3267498103/1994Mr.Resistor.M.Gustafson.www.nplus2.org.part3.rar

Dada - Piet Kroon (1994)

No Dialogue / Sin Diálogos

Un lugar donde la gente, y hasta los perros, cargan libros en la cabeza para medir su intelecto, mientras más libros se cargue se es más respetado; Un sujeto obsesionado con tener un hijo que pueda cargar todos los libros que él no puede.

Una elaborada crítrica a la educación y a esa ética intelectualista, legada directamente del positivismo del s. XIX, corriente que aún cala en esta sociedad moderna.

Este corto fue galardonado con varios premios, entre ellos están  la nominación al Oso de Oro, como mejor cortometraje, en el Festival de Berlín el año 1994; el Premio de la Audiencia en el Anima Mundi en 1997; la Mención Especial en el Ottawa International Animation Festival en 1996, entre otros tantos.
 

"This very original short (10 minutes long, I think) by Piet Kroon sketches a society whose citizens carry books around on their heads...evidently as visual signs of their "education" and social standing. Some seem to labor under a dozen or more books, which however appear to impress others greatly.

Into this world is born a child who, it appears, lacks the capacity to carry books outwardly in this way, causing his father no end of consternation. But he turns out to be remarkable in a different way.... Kroon has given us a rather original parable on the nature of learning and knowledge, which is best digested for internal use, as opposed to being flaunted as an external trapping designed to evoke awe."

KFL (IMDb)

LINKS

https://rapidshare.com/files/2203212372/DaDa.P.K.www.nplus2.org.part1.rar

https://rapidshare.com/files/3785261021/DaDa.P.K.www.nplus2.org.part2.rar

The Dirdy Birdy - John R. Dilworth (1994)

No Dialogue / Sin Diálogos

Un desfigurado pájaro se enamora perdidamente de una indiferente gata; la enamorada ave va en constante búsqueda de su amada, sin embargo ella lo recibe con bastante repulsión. Delirante y divertida historia de un amor un destructivo.

La obra de este animador estadounidense destaca y divierte por el absurdo expresado constantemente, ese absurdo presente en la estética misma y cuyo alcance llega hasta la narrativa. Basta con ver otra de sus grandes obras, Life in Transition (2005), para poder apreciar cierta evolución en este manejo del absurdo surreal, llegando casi hasta matices dalinianos.

 

"Academy Award nominated director John R. Dilworth is a New York-based animation director and designer whose work has appeared on CBS, Showtime, HBO, FOX, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, MTV, Canal +, and Arte. His films have been featured in museum programs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. He is the founder of Stretch Films, Inc., one of the leading animation design and production studios in New York City...

...Dilworth's breakout film was THE DIRDY BIRDY (1994).  The film critic, Karl Cohen, wrote, "An exceptional audience pleaser... I expect it will join Bambi Meets Godzilla as one of the great dubious classics of the late 20th century."  The film was selected in over 50 international festivals and has won numerous prizes including a Mikeldo do Plata de Animacion in Spain. THE DIRDY BIRDY toured with Spike & Mike's "Festival of Animation" and "Sick & Twisted Festival." It was also selected to screen with the 35-city LOLLAPALOOZA SUMMER TOUR music festival in 1995 and opened for several feature films, among them, "CRUMB."  The Venice Film Festival has placed a print of THE DIRDY BIRDY in their permanent archive.

The film was featured on MTV's debut of "Cartoon Sushi," a series that highlights the best in independent animation. It has been broadcast in Spain, France, Belgium, Finland, Germany, and Australia; as well as screening in theaters throughout Europe. The popularity of the film continues in 2006 as a roadband series on Comedy Central's website, Motherload..."

(http://www.stretchfilms.com)

LINK

https://rapidshare.com/files/311378896/1994DIRDYBIRDY.J.Dilworth_www.nplus2.org_.mp4