Boogie-Doodle
(Norman McLaren, Canada 1940, 4 min., 16mm)
Loops
(Norman McLaren, Canada 1941, 3 min., 16mm)
Chants Populaires No. 5
(Norman McLaren, Canada 1944, 6 min., 16mm)
Fiddle-de-Dee
(Norman McLaren, Canada 1947, 3 min., 16mm)
A Phantasy
(Norman McLaren, Canada 1952, 7 min., 16mm)
Le Merle
(Norman McLaren, Canada 1958, 4 min., 16mm)
Neighbours
(Norman McLaren, Canada 1952, 8 min., 16mm)
A Chairy Tale
(Norman McLaren, Canada 1958, 12 min., 16mm)
Pas de Deux
(Norman McLaren, Canada 1968, 13 min., 16mm)
Narcissus
(Norman McLaren, Canada 1983, 22 min., 16mm)
Despite being born in Scotland, Norman McLaren became Canada’s premier animator, producing works himself with the National Film Board and training following generations of animators. In early films he would paint or scratch the film itself as he did not have ready access to cameras. He would experiment with several types of animation, producing a broad range of styles, frequently playing with shapes and colors, and often closely associated with the music and sound that accompanies his films. In his later career, he became fascinated with the movement of the human body and its possibilities on screen, particularly in the area of dance, as he used multiple filmic techniques to enhance the performances of dancers on stage. This program celebrating Canada Day covers forty years of McLaren’s career and his diverse range of influences and styles.