Been interested in old animation, concerning serious, philosophical, political
and social themes. Its interesting how ideas changed over time since WWII and throughout
the cold war. They can be kinda creepy sometimes, in a way that modern
animation fails to achieve or surpass. Its the artistry born out of an age
of fear, nightmares and horror, but also of hope and dreams of a brighter future.
So I decided to share a few interesting examples, chronologically,
with diverse cultural themes and topics. A rich fossil record of the failing
and redemption of the human spirit please feel free to discuss and share
other films you've witnessed before or heard about enjoy...
A Picture in Your Mind - 1948
By: Philip Stapp as part of the Marshall Plan films
Theme: Racism & Intolerance
https://youtu.be/k72trYXtuNo
The Truth About Mother Goose - 1957
By: Walt Disney and directed by Bill Justice
Theme: Historical background behind famous nursery rhymes
https://youtu.be/bWEB6fY0uO4
Icarus Montgolfier Wright - 1962
By: Format Films and directed by Osmond Evans
based on a Ray Bradbury story concerning the first man to fly a rocket ship
Theme: Technological pioneering and fame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm5kylavY3Y
The Hangman - 1964
By: Les Goldman & Paul Julian,
based on a poem by Maurice Ogden, published in 1954
Theme: Bystander effect and Fascism
https://youtu.be/BRDq7aneXnk
The Bear that Wasn't - 1967
By: Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble,
based on a 1946 children's book by Frank Tashlin
Theme: Workplace alienation and social conformity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtgMD2uA-Vo
Plato's cave - 1973
By: **** Oden & Orson Welles,
based on Plato's allegory of the cave
Theme: philosophy and the enlightenment of society
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EPz5z1pUag
There Will Come Soft Rains - 1984
By: Soviet studio Uzbekfilm and directed by Dmitri Ivanov
and Nazim Touliakhodjaev. based on a 1950, short story by Ray Bradbury
Theme:Technological dystopia and nuclear apocalypse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcCKXVkGCGM
UPDATE: I've noticed that a lot of the power in these shorts,
is conveyed in the atmospheric music choices, played throughout
the films. There is an interesting blog post by Adam Curtis discussing
how music can effect or change the medium's messages....
WHILE THE BAND PLAYED ON http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/entries/7fd095e6-549a-3b2c-b2e9-e01473ae9877
and social themes. Its interesting how ideas changed over time since WWII and throughout
the cold war. They can be kinda creepy sometimes, in a way that modern
animation fails to achieve or surpass. Its the artistry born out of an age
of fear, nightmares and horror, but also of hope and dreams of a brighter future.
So I decided to share a few interesting examples, chronologically,
with diverse cultural themes and topics. A rich fossil record of the failing
and redemption of the human spirit please feel free to discuss and share
other films you've witnessed before or heard about enjoy...
A Picture in Your Mind - 1948
By: Philip Stapp as part of the Marshall Plan films
Theme: Racism & Intolerance
https://youtu.be/k72trYXtuNo
The Truth About Mother Goose - 1957
By: Walt Disney and directed by Bill Justice
Theme: Historical background behind famous nursery rhymes
https://youtu.be/bWEB6fY0uO4
Icarus Montgolfier Wright - 1962
By: Format Films and directed by Osmond Evans
based on a Ray Bradbury story concerning the first man to fly a rocket ship
Theme: Technological pioneering and fame
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm5kylavY3Y
The Hangman - 1964
By: Les Goldman & Paul Julian,
based on a poem by Maurice Ogden, published in 1954
Theme: Bystander effect and Fascism
https://youtu.be/BRDq7aneXnk
The Bear that Wasn't - 1967
By: Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble,
based on a 1946 children's book by Frank Tashlin
Theme: Workplace alienation and social conformity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtgMD2uA-Vo
Plato's cave - 1973
By: **** Oden & Orson Welles,
based on Plato's allegory of the cave
Theme: philosophy and the enlightenment of society
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EPz5z1pUag
There Will Come Soft Rains - 1984
By: Soviet studio Uzbekfilm and directed by Dmitri Ivanov
and Nazim Touliakhodjaev. based on a 1950, short story by Ray Bradbury
Theme:Technological dystopia and nuclear apocalypse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcCKXVkGCGM
UPDATE: I've noticed that a lot of the power in these shorts,
is conveyed in the atmospheric music choices, played throughout
the films. There is an interesting blog post by Adam Curtis discussing
how music can effect or change the medium's messages....
WHILE THE BAND PLAYED ON http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/entries/7fd095e6-549a-3b2c-b2e9-e01473ae9877