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''Ryan'' won the 2004 [[Academy Award for Animated Short Film]] and the [[25th Genie Awards|25th Genie Award]] for Best Animated Short. It was well received at the [[Cannes Film Festival|Cannes]], [[Venice Film Festival|Venice]], [[Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]] and [[Toronto International Film Festival|Toronto]] film festivals. It was also included in the [[Animation show of shows|Animation Show of Shows]].
''Ryan'' won the 2004 [[Academy Award for Animated Short Film]] and the [[25th Genie Awards|25th Genie Award]] for Best Animated Short. It was well received at the [[Cannes Film Festival|Cannes]], [[Venice Film Festival|Venice]], [[Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]] and [[Toronto International Film Festival|Toronto]] film festivals. It was also included in the [[Animation show of shows|Animation Show of Shows]].


==Development==
==Background==
Larkin was a Canadian animator who had worked at the National Film Board of Canada in the 1960s and 1970s, producing several celebrated works.{{sfn|Wells|2006|p=130}} Best-known for his film ''[[Walking (film)|Walking]]''{{sfn|Waugh|2006|p=451}} composed of animated vignettes of people [[walking]], Larkin was considered one of the best animators of his generation.{{sfn|Louguet|Maheu|2011|p=256}} In the 1970s, unable to cope with his success and pressure to develop more works and facing a [[Writer's block|creative block]], he became addicted to [[alcohol]] and [[cocaine]].{{sfn|Honess Roe|2013|p=130}}{{sfn|Louguet|Maheu|2011|p=256}}

[[Chris Robinson (writer)|Chris Robinson]] first learned of Larkin in 2000 after his name was mentioned in a discussion by staff member Lesya Fesiak, who had heard about Larkin [[Begging|panhandling]] in Montreal form a friend.{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=259}} Robinson, who is the director of the [[Ottawa International Animation Festival]], and a few others drove to Montreal to meet Larkin, where they found him panhandling on [[Saint Laurent Boulevard]].{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=259}} They offered him dinner at a nearby bar, where he recounted his life story, which Robinson found "comical and heartbreaking, pathetic and inspiring".{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=259}} Before leaving, Robinson invited Larkin to Ottawa to watch a few entries for that year's film festival.{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=259}}
[[Chris Robinson (writer)|Chris Robinson]] first learned of Larkin in 2000 after his name was mentioned in a discussion by staff member Lesya Fesiak, who had heard about Larkin [[Begging|panhandling]] in Montreal form a friend.{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=259}} Robinson, who is the director of the [[Ottawa International Animation Festival]], and a few others drove to Montreal to meet Larkin, where they found him panhandling on [[Saint Laurent Boulevard]].{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=259}} They offered him dinner at a nearby bar, where he recounted his life story, which Robinson found "comical and heartbreaking, pathetic and inspiring".{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=259}} Before leaving, Robinson invited Larkin to Ottawa to watch a few entries for that year's film festival.{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=259}}


Landreth met Larkin at the suggestion of Robinson. Landreth had been taking part in the festival's selection selection committee when a fourth member of the committee dropped out. Robinson asked Larkin to take the missing committee member's place, and personally drove him to Ottawa.{{sfn|Singer|2004}}
Landreth met Larkin at the suggestion of Robinson. Landreth had been taking part in the festival's selection committee when a fourth member of the committee dropped out. Robinson asked Larkin to take the missing committee member's place, and personally drove him to Ottawa.{{sfn|Singer|2004}}


By 2001, Landreth had decided to make a film based on Larkin's life.{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=261}}

==Development==
Landreth spent several years developing the film.{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=259}}
Landreth spent several years developing the film.{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=259}}

He used the technique of [[psychological realism]], blending dialogue from interviews with subjective screen characters who are "sometimes fragmented, distorted, or in some way unusual".{{sfn|Wells|2006|p=130}} Landreth has stated that Larkin's character in the film is a subjective interpretation based on his own ideology and experiences, and said that "we don't see things as they are, we see things as we are".{{sfn|Honess Roe|2013|p=132}} He animated Larkin as a beaten character "battered by years of substance abuse and still bearing the scars of his artistic failure".{{sfn|Honess Roe|2013|p=130}}

Landreth incorporated Larkin's alcoholism as part of the narrative of the film, at first in the background as Larkin sips from a thermos, and later directly as Landreth asks Larkin about his alocholism.{{sfn|Honess Roe|2013|p=131}}


==Animation==
==Animation==
The animation consists of three-dimensional avatars representing the interview subjects, each "mutilated and deformed in ways expressive of emotional and artistic trauma".{{sfn|Armitage|2011|p=77}} There is a shift between various techniques throughout the animation, particularly the use of hand-drawn vectors, [[rotoscoping]], and [[3D rendering]] of characters and the environments in which they are set.{{sfn|Armitage|2011|p=78}}
The animation consists of three-dimensional avatars representing the interview subjects, each "mutilated and deformed in ways expressive of emotional and artistic trauma".{{sfn|Armitage|2011|p=77}} There is a shift between various techniques throughout the animation, particularly the use of hand-drawn vectors, [[rotoscoping]], and [[3D rendering]] of characters and the environments in which they are set.{{sfn|Armitage|2011|p=78}} Although it appears to be "live action", all aspects of character movement are rendered animations conceived for the film.{{sfn|Wells|2006|p=130}} Louguet and Maheu state that the characters are brought to life as disembodied, skinned, and broken.{{sfn|Louguet|Maheu|2011|p=256}}


It also includes excerpts of two of Larkin's most famous animated shorts, including the 1972 line animation [[Street Musique]]{{sfn|Armitage|2011|p=77}}
It also includes excerpts of two of Larkin's most famous animated shorts, including the 1972 line animation [[Street Musique]]{{sfn|Armitage|2011|p=77}}


The [[soundtrack]] consists of audio from previously recorded interviews, and uses a technique employed for the development of [[Creature Comforts]] by [[Aardman Animation]] in 1989.{{sfn|Armitage|2011|p=78}}
The [[soundtrack]] consists of audio from previously recorded interviews, and uses a technique employed for the development of [[Creature Comforts]] by [[Aardman Animation]] in 1989.{{sfn|Armitage|2011|p=78}}

===Software===
The [[Autodesk Maya|Maya]] software by [[Alias Systems Corporation|Alias|Wavefront]] (now part of [[Autodesk]]) was used for [[3D modeling]], [[Skeletal animation|rigging]], [[Computer graphics lighting|lighting]], rendering, and animation, and [[Combustion (software)|Discreet Combustion)]] for [[Digital compositing|compositing]] and all [[2D computer graphics]].{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=261}}{{sfn|Wells|2006|p=130}}

[[Adobe Photoshop]] was used for painting and [[texture mapping]], and [[Adobe Premiere]] was used for creative development and editing.{{sfn|Wells|2006|p=130}}

==Legacy==
Robinson has stated in his book ''The Animation Pimp'' that he "quit drinking and started to make amends for the swamp of a life I created before" after his few meetings with Larkin.{{sfn|Robinson|2007|p=264}}


==See also==
==See also==
Line 48: Line 65:
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|title=Virilio Now: Current Perspectives in Virilio Studies|editor-last=Armitage|editor-first=John|publisher=[[Polity (publisher)|Polity]]|year=2011|isbn=9780745648781|oclc=|ref=harv}}
*{{cite book|title=Virilio Now: Current Perspectives in Virilio Studies|editor-last=Armitage|editor-first=John|publisher=[[Polity (publisher)|Polity]]|year=2011|isbn=9780745648781|oclc=|ref=harv}}
*{{cite book|title=Animated Documentary|last=Honess Roe|first=Annabelle|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2013|isbn=9781137017468|oclc=|ref=harv}}<!-- more info to incoporate -->
⚫
*{{cite news|url=http://www.awn.com/vfxworld/landreth-ryan|title=Landreth on 'Ryan'|last=Singer|first=Gregory|date=4 June 2004|work=[[Animation World Network]]|accessdate=4 January 2014|ref=harv}}
*{{cite journal|journal=Cahiers du CIRCAV|title=Cinéma(s) et nouvelles technologies: continuités et ruptures créatives|editor-last1=Louguet|editor-first1=Patrick|editor-last2=Maheu|editor-first2=Fabien|issue=22|publisher=[[L'Harmattan|Editions L'Harmattan]]|year=2011|isbn=9782296555693|oclc=|ref=harv}}
*{{cite book|title=The Animation Pimp|last=Robinson|first=Chris|publisher=[[Cengage Learning]]|year=2007|isbn=9781435457935|oclc=|ref=harv}}
*{{cite book|title=The Animation Pimp|last=Robinson|first=Chris|publisher=[[Cengage Learning]]|year=2007|isbn=9781435457935|oclc=|ref=harv}}
⚫
*{{cite news|url=http://www.awn.com/vfxworld/landreth-ryan|title=Landreth on 'Ryan'|last=Singer|first=Gregory|date=4 June 2004|work=[[Animation World Network]]|accessdate=4 January 2014|ref=harv}}
*{{cite book|title=Romance of Transgression in Canada: Queering Sexualities, Nations, Cinemas|last=Waugh|first=|publisher=[[McGill-Queen's University Press]]|year=2006|isbn=9780773576803|oclc=|ref=harv}}
*{{cite book|title=The Fundamentals of Animation|series=Fundamentals Series|last=Wells|first=Paul|publisher=AVA Publishing|year=2006|isbn=9782940373024|oclc=|ref=harv}}
*{{cite web|title=Alter Egos|url=http://www.nfb.ca/film/alter_egos/|publisher=[[National Film Board of Canada]]|accessdate=4 November 2010|ref={{harvid|National Film Board of Canada}} }}
*{{cite web|title=Alter Egos|url=http://www.nfb.ca/film/alter_egos/|publisher=[[National Film Board of Canada]]|accessdate=4 November 2010|ref={{harvid|National Film Board of Canada}} }}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}

Revision as of 19:20, 4 January 2014

Ryan
Directed byChris Landreth
Produced bySteven Hoban
Mark Smith
Marcy Page
StarringRyan Larkin
Chris Landreth
Felicity Fanjoy
Derek Lamb
Edited byAllan Code
Music byFergus Marsh
Michael White
Distributed byNational Film Board of Canada
Release date
2004
Running time
13 min 54 sec[1]
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Ryan is a 2004 animated documentary by Chris Landreth about the Canadian animator Ryan Larkin, who had lived on skid row in Montreal as a result of drug and alcohol abuse.[1]

It is an animated interpretation of an interview of Larkin by Landreth.[1] Also included in the animation were interviews with Larkin's "friends, lovers and associates", as well as Landreth.[1] According to the credits, the animation was created at the Animation Arts Centre at Seneca College. Ryan was co-produced by Copper Heart Entertainment and the National Film Board of Canada, and excerpts also appear in the NFB documentary Alter Egos.[2]

Ryan won the 2004 Academy Award for Animated Short Film and the 25th Genie Award for Best Animated Short. It was well received at the Cannes, Venice, Sundance and Toronto film festivals. It was also included in the Animation Show of Shows.

Background

Larkin was a Canadian animator who had worked at the National Film Board of Canada in the 1960s and 1970s, producing several celebrated works.[3] Best-known for his film Walking[4] composed of animated vignettes of people walking, Larkin was considered one of the best animators of his generation.[5] In the 1970s, unable to cope with his success and pressure to develop more works and facing a creative block, he became addicted to alcohol and cocaine.[6][5]

Chris Robinson first learned of Larkin in 2000 after his name was mentioned in a discussion by staff member Lesya Fesiak, who had heard about Larkin panhandling in Montreal form a friend.[7] Robinson, who is the director of the Ottawa International Animation Festival, and a few others drove to Montreal to meet Larkin, where they found him panhandling on Saint Laurent Boulevard.[7] They offered him dinner at a nearby bar, where he recounted his life story, which Robinson found "comical and heartbreaking, pathetic and inspiring".[7] Before leaving, Robinson invited Larkin to Ottawa to watch a few entries for that year's film festival.[7]

Landreth met Larkin at the suggestion of Robinson. Landreth had been taking part in the festival's selection committee when a fourth member of the committee dropped out. Robinson asked Larkin to take the missing committee member's place, and personally drove him to Ottawa.[8]

By 2001, Landreth had decided to make a film based on Larkin's life.[9]

Development

Landreth spent several years developing the film.[7]

He used the technique of psychological realism, blending dialogue from interviews with subjective screen characters who are "sometimes fragmented, distorted, or in some way unusual".[3] Landreth has stated that Larkin's character in the film is a subjective interpretation based on his own ideology and experiences, and said that "we don't see things as they are, we see things as we are".[10] He animated Larkin as a beaten character "battered by years of substance abuse and still bearing the scars of his artistic failure".[6]

Landreth incorporated Larkin's alcoholism as part of the narrative of the film, at first in the background as Larkin sips from a thermos, and later directly as Landreth asks Larkin about his alocholism.[11]

Animation

The animation consists of three-dimensional avatars representing the interview subjects, each "mutilated and deformed in ways expressive of emotional and artistic trauma".[1] There is a shift between various techniques throughout the animation, particularly the use of hand-drawn vectors, rotoscoping, and 3D rendering of characters and the environments in which they are set.[12] Although it appears to be "live action", all aspects of character movement are rendered animations conceived for the film.[3] Louguet and Maheu state that the characters are brought to life as disembodied, skinned, and broken.[5]

It also includes excerpts of two of Larkin's most famous animated shorts, including the 1972 line animation Street Musique[1]

The soundtrack consists of audio from previously recorded interviews, and uses a technique employed for the development of Creature Comforts by Aardman Animation in 1989.[12]

Software

The Maya software by Alias|Wavefront (now part of Autodesk) was used for 3D modeling, rigging, lighting, rendering, and animation, and Discreet Combustion) for compositing and all 2D computer graphics.[9][3]

Adobe Photoshop was used for painting and texture mapping, and Adobe Premiere was used for creative development and editing.[3]

Legacy

Robinson has stated in his book The Animation Pimp that he "quit drinking and started to make amends for the swamp of a life I created before" after his few meetings with Larkin.[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Armitage 2011, p. 77.
  2. ^ National Film Board of Canada.
  3. ^ a b c d e Wells 2006, p. 130.
  4. ^ Waugh 2006, p. 451.
  5. ^ a b c Louguet & Maheu 2011, p. 256.
  6. ^ a b Honess Roe 2013, p. 130.
  7. ^ a b c d e Robinson 2007, p. 259.
  8. ^ Singer 2004.
  9. ^ a b Robinson 2007, p. 261.
  10. ^ Honess Roe 2013, p. 132.
  11. ^ Honess Roe 2013, p. 131.
  12. ^ a b Armitage 2011, p. 78.
  13. ^ Robinson 2007, p. 264.

References

  • Armitage, John, ed. (2011). Virilio Now: Current Perspectives in Virilio Studies. Polity. ISBN 9780745648781. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Honess Roe, Annabelle (2013). Animated Documentary. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137017468. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Louguet, Patrick; Maheu, Fabien, eds. (2011). "Cinéma(s) et nouvelles technologies: continuités et ruptures créatives". Cahiers du CIRCAV (22). Editions L'Harmattan. ISBN 9782296555693. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Robinson, Chris (2007). The Animation Pimp. Cengage Learning. ISBN 9781435457935. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Singer, Gregory (4 June 2004). "Landreth on 'Ryan'". Animation World Network. Retrieved 4 January 2014. {{cite news}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Waugh (2006). Romance of Transgression in Canada: Queering Sexualities, Nations, Cinemas. McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 9780773576803. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Wells, Paul (2006). The Fundamentals of Animation. Fundamentals Series. AVA Publishing. ISBN 9782940373024. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • "Alter Egos". National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
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