How to Avoid Friendship

Ha! I loved the Terry-Thomas style narration here as the sneering tones advocate a plan for people to join the "Independent League of Loners" ("ILL") and escape the whole range of faux-friendly types who exude camaraderie from every pore. How do you deter such folk? Perhaps a penetrating stare? How to avoid that person who shakes your hand like his is a steel claw. Antidotes? Well for that you have to buy an handbook which will give you a recipe for your very own stink bomb - mind you, you'll need a strong stomach of your own for that one too! Maybe try a little cannibalism, rubber masks or just plain running way? There's no end of joy here for those of us of a more curmudgeonly nature who just want to be left in peace instead of pieces. It's well written and I'm sure I heard a Scots voice in this simply drawn but colourful and poignant short feature. I want that recipe book!

This short, nominated for an Academy Award, is one of four in a series of "self-help" cartoons done by Rembrandt Films. Arthur Treacher narrates all four and is perfect for the job! I suspect it's safe to say that if the advice here is followed, friendship is not something that will trouble you for terribly long! This short, along with the others in the series, can be found on Rembrandt Films Greatest Hits and the entire compilation is wholeheartedly recomended.