http://bitterfilms.com/
Don Hertzfeldt is one of those whose skills and talents are intimidating. He has an impressive track list, with nearly 200 awards for his brilliant animation. I stumbled upon him by chance, and adored him and his work instantly. His works are funny, heartbreaking, and aesthetically amazing.
Hit the jump for links to his work and a bit of a bio.
The first piece of his I saw remains my favorite to this day. And one of my favorite films in general. Everything Will Be Okay (2008), tells the story of Bill, a man with an unidentified mental illness. You follow him through his deterioration and into the sequel, I Am So Proud of You (2010), which is just as lovely, both in writing and depiction. The third and final installment, It's Such A Beautiful Day, was released earlier this year and is currently on tour with Hertzfeldt.
Through this trilogy you feel for Bill, who is at the end of the day, a simple stick figure. That is the beauty of what Hertzfeldt does. He is a true filmmaker, sucking you into the story, making you connect to it. Though this may sound terribly serious, it's actually incredibly funny in many parts, and will make you laugh in a way that makes you question your lucidity.
And while the emotional trilogy is indeed a piece of art, it's not the only piece of his worth mentioning. It is all worth mentioning. Through this trilogy I found other shorts, and they amazed me. His shorts feature not just drawings, but a blending of several different mediums, which come together to set moods and tell stories all on their own. He often features classical music and operas in his pictures, contrasting beautifully with the craziness sometimes seen.
His more humorous works, Rejected and Wisdom Teeth, feature a surreal comedy that seems niche, but really isn't. The funniest work he's done, in my opinion, are his interludes for The Animation Show, a traveling film festival showcasing- you guessed it- animation.
All in all, Hertzfeldt is held highest in my respect not simply for his works or his humor. He is held there because of his sheer independence and skill. It's not unusual for Hertzfeldt to single-handedly write, direct, produce, animate, photograph, edit, perform voices, record and mix sound, and/or compose music for his films. That sort of wide-ranged talent is something I remain envious and in awe of.
I cannot say how much I recommend taking a look at his work.
Don Hertzfeldt is one of those whose skills and talents are intimidating. He has an impressive track list, with nearly 200 awards for his brilliant animation. I stumbled upon him by chance, and adored him and his work instantly. His works are funny, heartbreaking, and aesthetically amazing.
Hit the jump for links to his work and a bit of a bio.
The first piece of his I saw remains my favorite to this day. And one of my favorite films in general. Everything Will Be Okay (2008), tells the story of Bill, a man with an unidentified mental illness. You follow him through his deterioration and into the sequel, I Am So Proud of You (2010), which is just as lovely, both in writing and depiction. The third and final installment, It's Such A Beautiful Day, was released earlier this year and is currently on tour with Hertzfeldt.
Through this trilogy you feel for Bill, who is at the end of the day, a simple stick figure. That is the beauty of what Hertzfeldt does. He is a true filmmaker, sucking you into the story, making you connect to it. Though this may sound terribly serious, it's actually incredibly funny in many parts, and will make you laugh in a way that makes you question your lucidity.
And while the emotional trilogy is indeed a piece of art, it's not the only piece of his worth mentioning. It is all worth mentioning. Through this trilogy I found other shorts, and they amazed me. His shorts feature not just drawings, but a blending of several different mediums, which come together to set moods and tell stories all on their own. He often features classical music and operas in his pictures, contrasting beautifully with the craziness sometimes seen.
His more humorous works, Rejected and Wisdom Teeth, feature a surreal comedy that seems niche, but really isn't. The funniest work he's done, in my opinion, are his interludes for The Animation Show, a traveling film festival showcasing- you guessed it- animation.
All in all, Hertzfeldt is held highest in my respect not simply for his works or his humor. He is held there because of his sheer independence and skill. It's not unusual for Hertzfeldt to single-handedly write, direct, produce, animate, photograph, edit, perform voices, record and mix sound, and/or compose music for his films. That sort of wide-ranged talent is something I remain envious and in awe of.
I cannot say how much I recommend taking a look at his work.
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