Cork Film Festival

Timetable :: Programme :: Ryan The Whole Picture

Ryan The Whole Picture
This may well be the ultimate animation fan's programme!
Thursday 13th \| 4.30pm \| Kino Cinema \| 84mins

In the 1960s, Ryan Larkin was a 19-year-old protégé of Norman McLaren. With McLaren's support, Larkin was given a rare carte blanche at the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and made some of the most influential animation films of all time. Once described as the "Frank Zappa of animation", Larkin made four groundbreaking films before drifting into cocaine and alcohol dependency and disappearing from public view to become a homeless man begging for change on the streets of Montreal for more than 30 years. We are delighted to screen two documentaries about Larkin, as well as all four films Larkin completed.
Ryan Chris Landreth Canada \| 2004 \| 14mins Ryan is an animated tribute to Canadian animator Ryan Larkin, which seamlessly merges stunning and unique style with a doc-umentary narrative about the fragile, but prodigiously talented filmmaker. In Ryan we hear the voice of Ryan Larkin and people who have known him, but these voices speak through strange, twisted, broken and disembodied 3D generated characters... people whose appearances are bizarre, humourous or disturbing. Although incredibly realistic and detailed, Ryan was created and animated without the use of live action footage, rotoscoping or motion capture... but instead from an original, personal, hand animated three dimensional world which Chris calls 'psychological realism'. Best Short Film, Animated - Academy Award Winner, 2005 Kodak Short Film Award - Cannes Film Festival, 2004
Altered Egos Chris Landreth, Laurence Green Canada \| 2004 \| 52mins An expansive documentary that delves into the making of Ryan, including Larkin's reaction to the finished product. It also takes an in-depth look at his life as a homeless person.
Cityscape Citérama Ryan Larkin Canada \| 1964 \| 1min Larkin developed a unique technique involving stop-frame action with charcoal that was easy to erase. Using a strong sheet of paper, he was able to draw deeply into the paper and still erase it. Utilising this new technique, Cityscape is a dark, nightmarish view of the city, filled with animation and strange characters coming and going.
Syrinx Ryan Larkin Canada \| 1965 \| 3mins Based a solo flute piece called Syrinx by Claude Debussy, Larkin turned to the Greek story about Pan. In this tale of stalking, Pan is constantly hassling Syrinx for a little love. Tired of his advances, Syrinx asks Gaea for help. Gaea then turns Syrinx into a clump of reeds. Pan then takes the reeds and turns them into an instrument.
Walking En Marchant Ryan Larkin Canada \| 1968 \| 5mins One of the most celebrated films made at the NFB and one that remains a major influence on animators to this day. Using a combination of line drawing and colour wash, Larkin observes the movements of a variety of urban characters. Larkin weaves colours and sounds with an extraordinarily detailed visualisation of faces, bodies, gestures and postures. A vivid imagining of the city and those within it.

Street Musique Ryan Larkin Canada \| 1972 \| 9mins Opening with live-action footage of two street musicians, before changing into an animated stream of conscious piece. A variety of creatures and figures float through the screen and undergo a continual metamorphosis, the scenarios and images warp and twist into themselves and each other; a testament to Larkin's endless imagination and mastery of movement and composition. All films will be played on Beta

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