Magda

This is one of the animated shorts from THE ANIMATION SHOW: VOLUME 2. Most of the shorts in this DVD collection are rather poor because very few are funny and the emphasis is much more or art than entertainment in this second installment. For better films overall, see VOLUME 1.

The characters in this odd film are artist's wooden dummies that move thanks to stop-motion. These jointed characters, as you probably know, are very pose-able but also lack faces and fingers. This posability is important in this film because it's about a wooden dummy who falls in love with another one who is a contortionist with the circus.

Of all the shorts in this compilation, this is perhaps the one that falls in the middle for me. It's not among the best nor the worst. It certainly is creative, but the story itself is only fair and the animation looks as if it was relatively simple to make compared to most animated films.

There must be an element of the personal in this film from Chel White. The plot is a sort of romance between a contortionist and a member of the audience who becomes fascinated by her. It is played out in very simple and nostalgic style, with wooden marionettes animated by stop- motion. The dry voice-over from the lead character sets a tired tone which contrasts nicely with the more fanciful setting of the circus, and the wonder of the act. It takes the viewer there in the end, as the story sees a moment of nature beauty that is appreciated in the moment, is stretched out for profit and commercialized to the point where it loses the spark of creative spontaneity that it had in the first case.

The film delivers this well, and leaves a bittersweet memory to the film, but doesn't hammer it to the point where it becomes bitter in itself.

One of my favorite animated films! Brilliant animation and magnificent sound design combined with elegant, simple puppets and beautiful design. I love the bittersweet narration too. Few animated film have this kind of poignancy and emotion. Chel White is a great filmmaker.

Making a puppet film with wooden artists models was a great idea. There are lots of subtle sound effects that support the movements of the puppets, like the sound of springs stretching, creaking and sproinging that you hear when you twist those wooden models. It gives the film a haunted, eerie quality. The gorgeous production design convincingly delivers the sense of a dark carnival.

Two basic virtues - the use , in admirable manner , of wooden artists models and the voice of Joe Frank, narrating a simple story of love.

In same measure, a significant good point remains the beautiful recreation of circus atmosphere.

It is a fascinating realistic short animation, seductive moment by moment.

Just a gem.