The rise of independent animation

Gints Zilbalodis's film "Flow" (pictured) was produced in Latvia with a budget of only $3.7 million. The story of "Flow" is simple, revolving around the animal world and without dialogue. Yet, "Flow" achieved extraordinary things. Its box office revenue exceeded its production budget by more than ten times, and the film won almost all the major animation categories at the Golden Globes and Oscars. It was also the first Latvian film in history to win an Oscar. Sharing his thoughts on the success of "Flow," director Gints Zilbalodis said: "I am truly moved by the warm reception from everyone. With 'Flow,' I hope the film will open doors for independent animation filmmakers around the world."

The success of "Flow" has led many to reconsider the value of independent animation. Independent films don't have large budgets, simple special effects, or famous voice actors; their storylines are simple, yet they possess a unique appeal. For example, "Memoir of a Snail," an independent Australian animation. Directed by Adam Elliot, "Memoir of a Snail" uses stop-motion animation combined with dark humor. Unlike many animated films that often paint a rosy picture, "Memoir of a Snail" presents the harsh realities of the adult world. It follows the struggle for survival of twins Grace and Gilbert, separated by the death of their parents in the 1970s.

Similarly, Michel Hazanavicius's "The Most Precious of Cargoes" doesn't romanticize life. Hazanavicius's animated world depicts life with its many unavoidable circumstances and the pain that must be overcome. "The Most Precious of Cargoes" is based on a short story by Jean-Claude Grumberg, set during the Holocaust. A woodcutter and his wife risk their lives to save a newborn baby thrown from a train en route to the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz. Hazanavicius shared that he could have made a live-action film based on this story, but chose animation because he felt animation was a more honest approach.

In fact, almost all independent animated films tend to choose stories aimed at adults. In these films, the scenes are often more realistic and poignant, such as "Waltz with Bashir" about the 1982 Lebanon War, or "Persepolis" about the coming-of-age journey of an Iranian girl during the Islamic Revolution…

On the other hand, independent animated films demand exceptional creativity from filmmakers. A prime example is the way French director Michel Gondry focuses on creating his own animated films. He created the fantastical and absurd story "Maya, Give Me a Title" based on titles his young daughter Maya chose. For instance, the title "Maya in the Sea with a Bottle of Ketchup" inspired the story of a young girl trying to stop bottles from polluting the world's oceans. At the same time, Michel Gondry uses colorful paper-cut animation, a technique dating back to 1926. This technique was used in Lotte Reiniger's "The Adventures of Prince Achmed," the oldest surviving animated series. Meanwhile, filmmakers Stephen and Timothy Quay prefer using stop-motion animation with puppets for their work "Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass."

As can be seen, the creativity of independent animators always brings something new, giving their works a unique identity and attracting viewers.

BAO LAM (Compiled from The Guardian and South China Morning Post)

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/su-troi-day-cua-phim-hoat-hinh-doc-lap-a185701.html