Who I Am and What I Want

David Shrigley is a great artist who makes twisted lo-fi drawings, sculptures and other bits. They're often amusing but can also be dark and difficult. He lives in Glasgow where he went to art school. Since then he's made a name for himself with books and postcards, and by appearing in 2000's Beck's Futures, among loads of other things.David also made the award-winning MV Blur "Good Song" with Shynola. This September, he just released his book of drawing collections "Book of David Shrigley", containing 150 new drawings, sketchbook entries from student days, sad and funny ephemera, and texts that illuminate his work with a sideways light.

Who I Am and What I want is 2005 animation commissioned by animate!,directed by David Shrigley and Chris Shepherd. It's a scribbled, strangely funny but highly unsettling examination of the human condition. The story of a man who bares his emotions, history, hang ups and desires in all of their dysfunctional absurdity then leaves us to assemble not only his identity but to question our own.

I am actually doing a presentation on Chris Shepherd and I purchased this DVD. Its so bizarre but in a really fascinating way. What on earth was going through Chris Shepherd and David Shrigleys head when they created this film. I love the simplicity of it though and would recommend it for animation lovers as it is nothing like the animation you get nowadays. Very unique. The character alone makes you feel quite sorry for him although he seems happy, he is obviously lonely. I have to say I did get myself a bargain from amazon and I really look forward to making this presentation. It has also inspired me and im sure many others to try out new methods in animation. Comparing this film to other shorts Chris shepherd has created, this is different and its great to see an artist experimenting rather than sticking to one style.

Pete lives alone in the woods and he may not be normal although he talks in a very clear and polite voice. This animated film cleverly juxtapositions the dialogue and the character with the cruel and twisted actions we see happening on screen – both in reality and in Pete's mind (the distinction is never that clear which is which). It is hard to describe because it is very weird but it is well worth seeing because of how engaging and interesting it is. The film allows Pete to talk and we see him for who he is while also hearing how he thinks of himself and what he wants to be. It isn't delivered simply but in a complex and well-written manner that compliments the idea that Pete is seriously disturbed but doesn't totally know it.

The animation is very cool – superficially simplistic but looking great and flowing with ideas and motion. It is not a family film needless to say as it is full of sexual imagery and violence as Pete relates the contents of his life and his head. Eldon's voice work is spot on and his voice and delivery perfectly match the dialogue and animation – it is one of those times when you couldn't imagine someone else doing it better. Overall it is a fascinating film; not an easy watch but engaging, interesting, disturbing and clever. Describing it is difficult but finding it is worth the effort.