Strange Invaders

There's something a little of the "Tom Thumb" story here as "Doris" and "Roger" watch, somewhat sarcastically, their neighbours successfully have children whilst they remain a childless couple. That's not for the want of trying, but it takes some divine intervention and a crashing sound for them to find a new arrival wedged into their living room carpet. The dog's ejected from the house and the pair now embark on some heavily photographed parenting of a child who'd sooner eat the crockery than his peas (no bad thing?) and who likes to swim in the toilet bowl. It's clear that this kid is in the wrong place, and his ensuing antics make his "parents" wish they'd never met him in the first place. Luckily, he's working on his own repatriation plans... I liked the increasingly chaotic and colourfully vibrant animation and the whole "be careful what you wish for" theme that results in a denouement that terrifies poor old "Roger". It's good fun, this, and well worth eight minutes.

While FOR THE BIRDS copped the Oscar in 2002 for Best Animated Short Film and definitely deserved the award, nominee STRANGE INVADERS really captured my heart. While FOR THE BIRDS had top-notch graphics and an amazingly likable and cute story, there was a certain bizarreness about STRANGE INVADERS that made me laugh even harder than I did with FOR THE BIRDS.

To begin with, the animation looked as if you took the animators from the BOB & MARGARET television series and got them seriously drunk. While the style is similar, the quality of the animation isn't great. However, this is actually a bit of it's charm, as the styling and colors used all really made the most of this ultra-simplistic hand drawn approach. However, the big star of this animation is the writing--with some of the most surreal and just plain strange plot elements I've ever seen on film. Suffice to say, it's a lot like the old classic film VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED--but funny!! For normal folks, you must see FOR THE BIRDS. For weirdos and lovers of the fringe, you must see STRANGE INVADERS--a delightfully wacky alternative to all the polish of FOR THE BIRDS.

It's no "The Cat Came Back," but Strange Invaders is another quirky animated treat from Cordell Barker of the NFB. Compared to the other entries in this year's Short Animated Film category for the Oscars (with the notable exception of Ireland's "Give Up Yer Aul Sins"), Strange Invaders comes across as a refreshing dose of absurdity, conveyed through dazzling hand-made animation (as opposed to the CGI trend that seems to be slowly taking over). It's creepy, funny and distinct. Check this one out. Be be forewarned: you may never look at babies the same way again ("Peanut!").

With its odd mix of surrealism and pure whimsy, this animated short by Cordell Barker of the NFB is an utter joy! Filled with memorable score and wonderful imagery, this is true animation at its most clever and beautiful form! Watching it several times it not nearly enough!

Once you have seen this film, the rival winner of last years "Best Animated Short" at the Oscars, "For The Birds", will seem a mindless exercise and waste of computer memory! But up here in Canada, we know what really should have won the Academy Award.

The National Film Board adds another masterpiece to their list of fine works.

Quite a bizarre little animated short and definitely not to all tastes, this one makes The Cat Came Back seem normal by comparison! Though a bit overlong (a judicious trimming by 30-45 seconds would probably helped this out considerably), it's a very good cartoon, deservedly receiving a nomination for the Oscar for Animated Short and also a nod for the Genie, if I remember rightly. I'm not really sure who I'd consider the strange invaders, though-the parents are perhaps a bit stranger than the baby! Well worth watching. Recommended with the above caveats.