Ffresh managed to squeeze in two graduation shows in Newport last night. First up was the Newport Animation Degree Show held at the city campus of the University of Wales, Newport (we’ll blog about the second show on Monday).
What’s been striking about the work emerging from the animation department in Newport over the past couple of years is not just the increasing technical proficiency of the work, but also the high calibre of storytelling. The students within the department display a maturity way beyond their years and the results are an impressive and varied collection of films, which touch upon the whole spectrum of human emotions. The students’ dedication to their craft leaps off the screen, and the quality of the films screened last night is a testament to all their hard work and the talent of the tutors within the department.
Animation Newport 2011 – Showreel from Animation Newport 2011 on Vimeo.
Previous Ffresh winners Kate Broadhurst, Emma-Rose Dade, Helen Dallat, Daisy Gould, and Joseph Wallace all had new films on show last night, which once again highlighted their many talents. Joseph Wallace and Emma-Rose Dade’s The Man Who Was Afraid of Falling (main pic) recalled the quaint charm and dark undertones of an Ealing comedy. As well as looking fantastic it had a great score by composer Kit Wilson, which was perfectly suited to the story and style of animation.
Showreel 2011 from KateBroadhurst on Vimeo.
Growing Space by Kate Broadhurst was the most moving film of the night. Using the voices of people engaged with Growing Space – a garden design and maintenance organisation in Bristol - and a combination of hand drawn animation and painting on glass, Kate skilfully showed how the organisation helps people with depression and other problems to cathartically deal with their inner turmoil.
Animation Showreel 2011 from Helen Dallat on Vimeo.
Helen Dallat’s Bare was a simple, but funny tale of a grumpy bear who fails to keep nature from spoiling his perfect garden. The final scene is fantastic and shows a delightfully light touch in making the viewer smile. Apparently triggered by a real piece of graffiti found in a drawer, Daisy Gould’s Jackie and Kevin 1977 was a sweet exploration of love and memory.
Jackie and Kevin 1977- Trailer from Daisy Gould on Vimeo.
Another stand-out film of the night was Luke George and Alex Hancocks’ John and Betty featuring an old man who takes his obsession with sleuths and sleuthing a step too far with deadly consequences.
John & Betty – Trailer from Alex Hancocks on Vimeo.
Huw Whiddon’s Synaesthetic showed a conductor bringing music to live through painting. Eva Wagner’s Sun and Moon was like a children’s fairytale on acid and contained some gorgeous hand drawn animation that was both playful and dreamlike. Stacie Hawdon’s Discovery showed the son of an astronaut following in his father’s footsteps by building a rocket and going to the moon and contained some impressive CG animation and character design. Finally, Jessica Reynolds made a touching film about a young girl’s relationship with her Grandfather told through cut out animation that displayed a good combination of aesthetic and narrative.
Stacie Hawdon Graduation Showreel May 2011 from Stacie Hawdon on Vimeo.
Animation Newport 2011 – Graduation Films from Animation Newport 2011 on Vimeo.
To find out more about all the work from this year’s graduates from the animation course click here.
