Norman McLaren (© 1957 by Yousuf Karsh 1957)

At the request of National Film Board of Canada founder John Grierson, Norman McLaren created the NFB’s first animation team, and the mark of his personality and philosophy remains with the institution to this day. Now celebrating its 65th year of animated film production, the NFB has paid homage to its roots with its restorations of a significant number of McLaren’s works, including his Oscar-nominated live action short, A Chairy Tale, and his Oscar-winning short documentary, Neighbours.

Norman McLaren was born in Stirling , Scotland in 1914. As a student filmmaker he was influenced by the abstract work of German animator Oskar Fischinger, and his signature style ultimately emerged from his desire to marry music, movement, abstract images and innovative animation techniques. While McLaren is widely associated with drawing, painting or etching directly on the film frame, he also explored numerous other approaches and produced and directed live action and documentary shorts with equal facility. Film was his chosen medium, but his output nonetheless made key connections with the emerging aesthetics in painting, choreography and jazz in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. McLaren retired from filmmaking in 1983 and died in 1987.

A panel discussion hosted by renowned animation expert and author Charles Solomon will explore the life and work of Norman McLaren, including his enormous influence on the visual culture of Canada and on animation lovers and artists the world over. Panelists will include Oscar-nominated animator Ishu Patel.

Film Program:

Norman McLaren’s Opening Speech (1961); Mail Early for Christmas (1959); Stars and Stripes (1940); Hen Hop (1942); La Poulette grise (1947); Begone Dull Care (1949); Blinkity Blank (1955); A Chairy Tale (1957); Le Merle (1958); Lines Horizontal (1962); Pas de deux (aka Duo) (1968); Synchromy (1971); Neighbours (1952). Total running time: 87 minutes.