Calamity, une enfance de Martha Jane Cannary

Calamity is definitely one of my favorites cartoons! The graphic style is unique and the story is beautiful! It looks like a moving painting! The message is great! it totally deserves its Annecy award!

Oh my god, what did they do to Calamity Jane?

In the first place it has nothing to do with the historical character apart from her name; the main character is so annoying that it seems that I am watching Dennis the Menace.

Always so angry and upset.

Yes, the animation is so beautiful but don't use her name in vain.

Supported by a daring visual touch with strong acid lively colors , "Calamity" offers a subtle script that goes deeper than the simple hollow messages like "be yourself" that can be found in a lot of films aimed at children... Instead, "Calamity" shows the different levels of oppression in a society through the archetypes of the American West, with authority figures and victimes often taking turns, one becoming the other... Martha Jane/Calamity being the anomaly in the machine, subverting social codes : when the whole world is governed by codes and uniforms, why not go on your own code and invent your own personal identity ? This way, the film gives a strong empowering look on life and identities, a good message for girls and boys alike.

The legend of Calamity serves to build a film of great formal beauty, in the creation of landscapes full of color and an unlimited horizon. With a solid script that creates an entertaining story and endearing characters, Calamity is also a vindication of women in a man's world, where the disguise builds her own personality. It's a story of transformation from girl to woman and from woman to myth.

Calamity has merits both as a biopic as well as an artistic excellence.

On the animation side of things, the visuals are absolutely pheomenal, utilising a type of 2D animation that resembles a moving painting. There are no lines, going through the Samurai Jack style of utilising colors only. The occasional addition of CGI is the only part where the movie doesn't excell as it is notable.

In terms of historical accuracy, this movie beats several previous "inspired by a real story" animated features I shall not name. True, there are embellishments, but the sequence of events is true enough to history. As a consequence, the movie feels a bit random with only a thread of cohesive narrative, as real life stories tend to do. It by no means shies away from the sexism of its time, making Martha a rather sympathetic person without it feeling forced.

Overall a must see.