Animation Article
1 Accommodating Avant-Gardism? Amateur Animation and the Struggle for Technique [published in translation as: ‘Eine Annäherung an den Avantgardismus? Amateur- animation und das Ringen mit der Technik’, in: Siegfried Mattl, Carina Lesky, Vrääth Öhner, Ingo Zechner (eds), Abenteuer Alltag. Zur Archäologie des Amateurfilms, Vienna, FilmmuseumSynema Publications: Vienna, 2015, pp. 28-42. ISBN: 978-3-901644-63-4. Although sometimes regarded as an exceptional pursuit within a cine culture exhibiting such strong roots in still photography and amateur dramatics, animation has represented a persistent strand of non-professional filmmaking in Britain, since the emergence of “small-gauge” technologies, and the consolidation of an organised amateur movement in the 1920s. The distinctive nature of such interest was recognised early by movement insiders, and soon marked by the creation of dedicated “classes” within developing competition spheres,1 in the provision of customised technical devices and services by commercial suppliers,2 and by the emergence of reflection and critique within related hobby literatures.3 By the early 1930s, animation had 1 Notes announcing the first “Amateur National Convention” of small-gauge filmmaking organisations, identify a specific class for “A cartoon film lasting not more than 5 minutes,” adding suggestively that “cut-outs may be used, provided the cartoon effect is achieved.” See Anon., “The National Convention,” Amateur Films 1 (1929) 10, p. 222. 2 Several companies emerged in the post-war decades to supply animation equipment and materials for the amateur market, such as Filmcraft, established by well-known enthusiast, David Jefferson. Specialist devices and services for the would-be animator abound: see, for example, Alan Cleave, “Cartoon Animation For Everyone,” [part one] Movie Maker 5 (1971) 11, p.
[Show full text]