Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2006

Taylor Gray3 said:good luck, mr gorsky..

That one was pretty meh for me. Probably just because I heard the story way before, and honestly, the animation didn't really blow me away.

Carol Jackson45 said:I found that one pretty mediocre, perhaps because I had heard the story so long ago, and the animation didn't really blow me away either.

Since I hadn't actually heard the story before, the whole thing felt like a bit of a letdown to me. As for the animation, it wasn't anything particularly special...

It seems like everyone is staying quiet about yesterday's cartoons—they must have been a massive disappointment, I suppose.😎

They commented. stormyviper11 I don't know what you're trying to say. You're just leaving me hanging with an "i". Get to the point. watashi On the blog. I don't even know what to tell you... writing reviews about music or movies feels pointless because there's no way I can actually convey the vibe to someone who wasn't there. There were a few decent bits, but nothing that really blew my mind.

Marušić really did a number on me. I don't get why our critics and movies always have to be so pretentious—it’s either incomprehensible "art" or some heavy social message. I have no clue how San Francisco was supposed to relate to this cartoon. If he actually picked a real city, he could've at least integrated some historical or social context (like how Manhattan Island had that old cemetery turned into a park back in the mid-20th century that caused a huge scandal), but he just messed around with random details. He could've used any abstract city for this. And if the ocean is meant to be a motif, he could've used its shifting moods to actually drive the plot. Honestly, I probably still wouldn't like it, but at least there would be some justification. Right now, it feels totally hollow. The story is just underdeveloped.

I actually found Apple Pie pretty charming. Like I mentioned before, it reminds me of that picture book about Hector, Elizabeth, and the little king—can't recall the title—but the setup is similar: everything stays exactly the same every single day until someone finally decides to shake things up, and then everything changes.
That little Japanese man from Balthazar and Pac-Man's cross was pretty cute too, even if he was way too hyper. Might be worth a rewatch.
The girl with the racing heart didn't finally crash until today. I'm with stormyviper11 on this one—the woman's voice was a bit too much, honestly. It would've worked way better if it were more cinematic.

My pick from today is definitely Family Ties. It’s actually funny, solid storytelling, great details, and the animation is top-tier. I remember seeing Joanna Quinn at previous festivals, but her stuff never really stuck with me. This time? I think it might. 🙂

P.S. Those stories about Mr. Armstrong and Gorsky? Just more American urban legends. 🙂

Wednesday turned out to be another solid day at the festival!
The true tale of Sawney Beane offered a fascinating juxtaposition between its beautiful, lyrical
visual style and a rather "cruel"
narrative
. Apple pie was witty and fun, with an art style that complemented the tone perfectly.
Slide once again showcased exceptional animation quality.
Family Ties featured masterful drawing and animation paired with a clever story...

...honestly, there's hardly a film I’ve seen where I could say it was truly bad; some simply didn't resonate with me quite as deeply, but...
As for Marušić...I should probably elaborate on him, given he's one of our own...
His film is based on a true legend from San Francisco (which also served as the foundation for a short story by M. Smoje, much like how a certain song by Oliver might draw inspiration from local lore). But that context isn't even the point, because the setting for such a story can be—and indeed is—any major American metropolis where "outcasts" always exist on the periphery. In the heart of these "big" cities, people live "real" lives, making history amidst celebrations and fireworks... Yet just a stone's throw away—perhaps only a hundred yards—lies something entirely different: a different breed of people, trapped in their own isolated worlds, confined to a small stretch of coastline and a tiny boat serving as a home. These are lives that don't quite fit, days soaked in alcohol, yet they aren't any less heavy with emotion, filled with births, deaths, hatred, and love... ultimately leading to a tragic conclusion for those of us watching from "this side."
That is the essence of Marušić's film. Now, stormyviper11 claims he has no idea why M. filmed it or what the intended message was... Well, my guess is that he wanted to convey exactly what I (just) perceived. To me, that is more than enough for a film to be successful.🙂 I found it both beautiful and touching, despite its sadness... (that final shot, that 3D ascent over the city skyline, almost moved me to tears...)
Mind you, I absolutely adore the cheerful, riotously funny films too!!!🤣
Tonight, however, I am weighed down by obligations and feeling a bit blue 😢—I won't be able to make it to the festival, but I am eagerly looking forward to reading your reports...

redhawk76 said:...Marušić....

🤮

Thursday was peak—"Rabbit" was the best, while "Lady Godiva" was absolute garbage. As for tonight? Hard to pick anything besides pure effort and boredom—though I guess "Brothers Bearheart" had some decent bits. "Silencijum" is just awful—way too pretentious and tries way too hard to look fancy.🙂

Yesterday was easily my least favorite day of the entire festival...
If it hadn't been for that Russian short about the edge of a fool, I would have walked away feeling completely let down.
The American films were an absolute train wreck... honestly, is it too much to ask for something decent that actually feels original without being such a complete disaster?
But then again, I suppose people would rather see anything at all produced here than some low-effort 3D Balthazar 🙄

I ended up heading out before the final screening because I was just totally wiped out, so would anyone be kind enough to give me a recap of what I missed?

...

The last film wasn't actually a total disaster... though I have to wonder, why does the final one always have to be such a marathon?! I guess that bit about Kazimir, the guy who just draws black squares, was a pretty clever touch...

But there was this one great short from the student showcase called "The Bigouden Migration"...
The synopsis says: "A group of elderly ladies from Brittany compete in a Breton pancake baking contest."
It claims to be 3D, but honestly, I probably wouldn't have even guessed that...

Hmm... I gotta say, yesterday's lineup was pretty much my best selection yet. A few really solid films in there, and Ivan Durak? Man, he's just on another level.

As for Marušić, I’m honestly even more blown away now knowing he managed to butcher Smoje's story like that. It’s hard not to turn out at least a decent flick when you've got a genius like that to guide you. Look, I haven't actually read Roko and Cicibela, but I highly doubt it's any weaker than the rest of Smoje's work...

Bryan Torres said:...honestly, the last movie wasn't even a total disaster... but seriously, why does the latest one always have to be so damn long?! That bit with Kazimir—the guy just drawing black squares... was actually a decent idea.

Personally, my favorite part was: "When are you gonna stop drawing all this porn!?"🤣

Thursday was easily the worst day of the festival for me. Aside from The Last Knit (which, if you ask me, totally gives off Scrat vibes) and that charming Mr. Wolf, everything else sucked. Just a bunch of depressing stuff.

Last night was actually pretty solid. That story about Ivica the fool is honestly kind of cute, plus the fear and tension really hit home. 😬 The bears were great too—solid animation, a good plot, and plenty of clever nods to real people. Did anyone else catch that the lionesses were named Masa, Olga, and Irina? 🤣

Anyway, what’s the deal with screening "animated" films like the other night's While Darwin sleeps and yesterday's Dias irae? 👎

As for Marusica, I get what the poet was going for, I just think his poetic style could've been way better. 😉

I’ve been thinking about how "While Darwin sleeps" actually incorporates certain animation elements, whereas "Dies Irae" feels more like a piece of pure experimental cinema.
It strikes me that their judging criteria might be a bit inconsistent, if I’m being honest. 👎

Edit: Does anyone feel like they could predict the winners? Personally, I suspect "Ryan" might walk away with the Jury Prize; there's something about that story regarding a declining artist that usually resonates with judges. Based on the buzz I'm seeing, though, the Audience Award seems destined for "Ivica Budalica."

Taylor Gray3 said:edit: you guys wanna guess the winners??? jury prize might go to "ryan". if they get all sentimental about some starving artist story.

Hopefully not. Too predictable for me.😁

Taylor Gray3 said:I mean, "While Darwin sleeps" actually incorporates some animation elements, whereas "Dies Irae" feels more like pure experimental cinema. I guess their criteria might be a little off here.

...honestly, both those films were pretty bad, but that Darwin one? Ugh, just awful!😕

Anyway, Thursday was actually decent. That "RABBIT" film was my favorite...👍

Though, "UNACCOMPANIED Lady" was probably the dumbest movie in the whole lineup,
but maybe it was so stupid that it actually became good—sort of that Monty Python kind of vibe.🙏 🙏

UNACCOMPANIED Lady is absolutely brilliant!!!
The soundtrack, however, was just completely grating on my ears.
It doesn't really matter if the animation style is a bit unpolished or ugly; there is such a fun story at its core...

I personally wasn't a fan of RABBIT... 😕
To make matters worse, I had a child sitting right behind me—accompanied by her mother and grandmother—who, after the initial shock of watching "Flesh," 😁 started repeatedly asking, "When are the cartoons for kids starting?" Imagine that: a four-year-old staying up until midnight at an animation festival 🙄

Taylor Gray3 said:I had some kid sitting behind me with their mom and grandma, and after being totally traumatized by the movie "Flesh," 😁 they just started whining, "When are the cartoons starting?" Imagine a four-year-old at an animation festival staying out until midnight. 🙄

They were there in the morning, too. Honestly, I don't get why people feel the need to drag their toddlers to events that clearly aren't meant for them.

Ontopic: That UNACCOMPANIED Lady tune is stuck in my head now. Too bad it's such a garbage song. 😬

They were on every single morning.
The moment you hear "cartoons," everyone assumes it’s just mindless stuff for toddlers, isn't that right? Even having such an unconventional screening schedule didn't exactly steer people away from that assumption.
And honestly, trying to comb through the entire program is quite the chore 🙄

I have to say, I absolutely adore the music in this one!!! 🤣 It’s got this little bit of country blues played on a synthesizer... such a wonderfully wacky short film 😬

...

Everything about this animation is just wonderful...

With Mr. Wolf as the father figure, it’s easily the best story out there... 🙏 🙏

I didn't make it in on Tuesday, though... I guess that Jammaurin option sounds pretty good...
An old crocodile became friends with an octopus. She kept feeding him fish until one night, the crocodile decided to eat one of his friend's tentacles. 👍

Carol Jackson45 said:I mean, what’s even the point of calling "animated" "animated" movies things like that While Darwin sleeps flick from the other night or yesterday's Dias irae? 👎

Dies irae isn't even an actual animated movie; it's basically just a glorified slideshow.

Carol Jackson45 said:Ontopic: That Unaccompanied Lady tune is stuck in my head too. Too bad it’s so terrible. 😬

If it wasn't gross, it wouldn't work. Period.😬

Also, I'm bummed I missed Yamamura—that story is 🙏

Yamamura is a fantastic story, but that ending was just idiotic—it totally ruined the whole movie for me...

In my opinion, the Academy Award is going to go to either Jasper Morello or Ryan.