The hand-drawn animated films of Suzan Pitt

Abstract

The current article reviews the diversity of techniques employed by Suzan Pitt in the creation of her hand-drawn animated films. The filmmaker and her team dedicated hours of drawing, modelling, shooting and processing to each frame. Every film that Pitt made is the result of a labour-consuming process which took several years to accomplish. The filmmaker uses animation techniques which precede computer generated images (CGI), such as traditional cel animation, sand animation, 3D animation, film scratching. The amalgamation of images that were generated in different ways and subsequently animated in the course of the film production transforms the durability of collective reality and replaces it with fantasy. Pitt’s aesthetics and her choice of visual and artistic practices sets her further apart from those employed in well known and popular animation films. Her films often lack in aconsistently structured narrative. The images disclose psychological states, emotions and the encounter between the inner world and the outer, collectively shared one. Pitt embodies in images abstract themes such as female sexuality, death, depression, man – nature relationship, the existence of earthly miracles. The movement of the drawn objects on the screen represents the passage of time and the possibility of change. The soundtracks and sound effects create the atmosphere of a holistic experience while the oneiric images on the screen flash by from one emotion to another. The rich thematic and artistic individuality of Suzan Pitt’s films pose a challenge to the viewer’s imagination.

References:

Manchev, B. Tyaloto-metamorfoza. Sofia: Altera, 2007.

Marinchevska, N. Kvadrati na vaobrazhenieto. Estetika na animatsionnite tehniki. Sofia: Kolibri, 2005.

Milev, N. Teoriya na elementite na kinoto. Sofia: University Press St. Kliment Ohridski, 1998.

Neykova, R. Bozhesvtenoto I choveshkoto v bylgarskata animacia. Art Studies Quarterly, 2004, no. 2, p. 44-48.

Neykova, R. Animacionno Ihronofotografsko kino. Specifika na animacionnia obraz. In: Izkustvo I kontekst, Instituteof Art Studies - BAS, 2004.

Fingova, S. Montazhat na audiovizualnoto proizvedenie. Sofia: New Bulgarian University, 2008.

Franz von, M.-L. Anima i animus vav valshebnite prikazki. Sofia: Lege-Artis, 2004.

Gennep von, A. The Rites of Passage.Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1960.

Hannah, B. The inner journey: lectures and essays on Jungian psychology. Toronto: University of Toronto Press Incorporated, 2000.