Genre (animated film)
Encyclopedia
Genre is a 1996 Live-action/animated
short film by animator Don Hertzfeldt
, his second student film, preceded by Ah, L'Amour
(1995).
The 16mm short combines traditional animation, pixilation
, and stop-motion animation to present a cartoon rabbit careening through a variety of rapidly changing film genres as his animator struggles to come up with a good idea.
The short is Hertzfeldt's least favorite of his work , but it nevertheless was an animation festival hit that went on to receive 17 awards.
In 1997, it was shown on an episode of MTV's Cartoon Sushi
.
, being told what to do by the animator. (similar to Duck Amuck
.) The rabbit's activities depend on what genre
appears on the screen. (Example, for "horror movie", the rabbit is stabbed repeatedly by a second rabbit.) Occasionally, the animators hand will appear on the screen (Example, at the start, the rabbit is trying to run away from the movie, only to be pulled back by the animators hand.)
Live-action/animated film
A live-action/animated film is a motion picture that features a combination of real actors or elements: live-action and animated elements, typically interacting.-History:...
short film by animator Don Hertzfeldt
Don Hertzfeldt
Don Hertzfeldt is the creator of many short animated films, including the Academy-Award nominated Rejected and Everything Will Be OK. His animated films have received over 150 awards and have been presented around the world. Before the age of thirty, his films were already the subject of several...
, his second student film, preceded by Ah, L'Amour
Ah, L'Amour
Ah, L'Amour is Don Hertzfeldt's first 16mm student animated short film, completed at the age of 18 at UC Santa Barbara. Though produced for a beginning film class, the short had a very long life at animation festivals, launching Hertzfeldt into cult status at a young age. In 1998, the short won...
(1995).
The 16mm short combines traditional animation, pixilation
Pixilation
Pixilation is a stop motion technique where live actors are used as a frame-by-frame subject in an animated film, by repeatedly posing while one or more frame is taken and changing pose slightly before the next frame or frames. The actor becomes a kind of living stop motion puppet...
, and stop-motion animation to present a cartoon rabbit careening through a variety of rapidly changing film genres as his animator struggles to come up with a good idea.
The short is Hertzfeldt's least favorite of his work , but it nevertheless was an animation festival hit that went on to receive 17 awards.
In 1997, it was shown on an episode of MTV's Cartoon Sushi
Cartoon Sushi
Cartoon Sushi was an animation showcase program that aired on MTV from 1997 to 1998. It was produced by Nick Litwinko. As a collection of animation shorts, Cartoon Sushi was a spiritual successor to MTV's Liquid Television...
.
On DVD
In 2005, the original 16mm negative was digitally restored and remastered for the first time, for release on the extensive "Bitter Films Volume 1" DVD compilation of Hertzfeldt's 1995-2005 films. Special features included for Genre are Hertzfeldt's original production sketches, notes, and deleted ideas from the film; as well as a very rare 1993 video short called "Escape is Still Impossible": a precursor to Genre that Don created while still in high school. The DVD is available exclusively at the Bitter Films website, http://www.bitterfilms.comPlot
The plot centers around a hand drawn rabbitRabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
, being told what to do by the animator. (similar to Duck Amuck
Duck Amuck
Duck Amuck is a surreal animated cartoon directed by Chuck Jones and produced by Warner Bros. Cartoons. The short was released in early 1953 by The Vitaphone Corporation, the short subject division of Warner Bros. Pictures, as part of the Merrie Melodies series...
.) The rabbit's activities depend on what genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
appears on the screen. (Example, for "horror movie", the rabbit is stabbed repeatedly by a second rabbit.) Occasionally, the animators hand will appear on the screen (Example, at the start, the rabbit is trying to run away from the movie, only to be pulled back by the animators hand.)
Production credits
- Written, Produced, Animated, and Directed by Don Hertzfeldt
- Camera by Cary Walker
- Editing and Sound by Kevyn Eiselt
- Music by Dave LaDelfa
- Stop Motion Assistance by Brian Hamblin
- Copyright 1996 Bitter Films
Reception
The film was very well received. It was praised by critics such as Felix Hude of the Melbourne Film Festival, and won 17 awards.Awards
- Best Short Film - UCSB Corwin-Metropolitan Theaters Award
- First Place, Animation - UFVA Student Film Festival
- The Lumiere Award - New Orleans Film FestivalNew Orleans Film FestivalThe New Orleans Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the nonprofit organization New Orleans Film Society, a film society founded in 1989. The festival has been held since the society's inception. The festival takes place in mid-October. The festival, nicknamed "Cannes on the...
- First Place, Animated Short Subject New York Empire State Exhibitions
- Most Promising Filmmaker - Sinking Creek Film Festival
- Silver Plaque, Animation - Chicago International Film FestivalChicago International Film FestivalThe Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America....
- Second Place, Animation - Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
- Best Santa Barbara Filmmaker - Santa Barbara International Film FestivalSanta Barbara International Film FestivalThe Santa Barbara International Film Festival is a film festival and non-profit organization, established in 1985, that showcases independent American and international films. The SBIFF line-up includes 20 world premieres and 11 U.S. premieres, with newly expanded 11-day festival...
- Gold Medal, Best Animation - Carolina Film Festival
- Audience Choice Award, Best Animated Short - Filmfest New Haven
- Jury Award for Humor - Ann Arbor Film FestivalAnn Arbor Film FestivalThe Ann Arbor Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Ann Arbor in the U.S. state of Michigan. Established in 1963, it is the third-oldest film festival in North America ; and the oldest experimental film festival...
- Jury Award - Surprise International Film Festival, Taiwan
- Second Place, Student Animation - World Animation Celebration
- Bronze Plaque - Columbus International Film Festival
- Finalist Award - Worldfest Houston
- Honorable Mention - Humboldt State Film Festival
- Honorable Mention - Atlanta Film FestivalAtlanta Film FestivalThe Atlanta Film Festival is an Academy Award qualifying, international film festival held in Atlanta, Georgia. Started in 1976 and occurring every April, the festival shows a diverse range of independent films, including genre films such as horror and sci-fi...