Balance (animation)
Encyclopedia
Balance is a German
animated film
, released in 1989. It was directed and produced by twin brothers Wolfgang
and Christoph Lauenstein
.
The film depicts five individuals living on a small platform floating in space. Whenever one of them moves, the others must do so as well to ensure that the platform does not tip over. The group works cooperatively to maintain a "balance" until one individual pulls a box onto the platform. Since all are
curious as to what the box is, the individuals try to inspect the box and their actions disrupt the balance of the platform, and those on it. All but one of the individuals is pushed or falls off the edges of the platform. In the end, the lone individual must maintain a balance with the box, which is well out of reach.
Balance won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short
of 1989.
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
animated film
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
, released in 1989. It was directed and produced by twin brothers Wolfgang
Wolfgang Lauenstein
Wolfgang Lauenstein is a German film producer and animator.Lauenstein entered the School of Fine Arts in Hamburg, Germany in 1985. While enrolled at the school Lauenstein, together with his twin brother Christoph, created the animated short film Balance. It received an Academy Award in the...
and Christoph Lauenstein
Christoph Lauenstein
Christoph Lauenstein is a German Producer and animator.Lauenstein entered the School of Fine Arts in Kassel, Germany in 1985. While enrolled at the school Lauenstein, together with his twin brother Wolfgang, created the animated short film Balance. It received an Academy Award in the animated...
.
The film depicts five individuals living on a small platform floating in space. Whenever one of them moves, the others must do so as well to ensure that the platform does not tip over. The group works cooperatively to maintain a "balance" until one individual pulls a box onto the platform. Since all are
curious as to what the box is, the individuals try to inspect the box and their actions disrupt the balance of the platform, and those on it. All but one of the individuals is pushed or falls off the edges of the platform. In the end, the lone individual must maintain a balance with the box, which is well out of reach.
Balance won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short
Academy Award for Animated Short Film
The Academy Award for Animated Short Film is an award which has been given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of the Academy Awards every year since the 5th Academy Awards, covering the year 1931-32, to the present....
of 1989.
Production
- The climactic "balancing platform" sequence from National Treasure: Book of Secrets was directly inspired by "Balance", which is mentioned in its credits.
Further reading
- Olivier CotteOlivier CotteOlivier Cotte is a French film director, writer, graphic novel author, and animation historian.After studying music, ballet, fine arts and films, he worked 15 years in the industry as director, flame artist and director of special effects, with such people as Wim Wenders , Roman Polanski ,...
(2007) Secrets of Oscar-winning animation: Behind the scenes of 13 classic short animations. (Making of '"Balance") Focal Press. ISBN 978-0240520704
External links
- Watch Balance at Lauenstein & Lauenstein's web site