Cass Study - Overlap Festival

Overlap Festival

Animation Show & Tell

This is a new festival set up by Louis Hudson, where many animators would come and show and tell about the few animations they are presenting, where any veterans or students who have currently studying or graduated can submit their works and have no more less than 1 second of animation, although the festivals had one guide line that was the theme that is based on ‘Faces’, however most animation shown today went over the theme and displayed various different styles and themes.

The animators that have submitted were Fraser Ntukula presenting two submissions, Jim Howells with his visual style with 3D animals, Josh Leach’s abstract paintings coming to life, Shiyi Li similar style to Josh Lech along with a brief video about herself, Greg McLeod’s informative line art video, Nina Noon’s dark humour of moving and meeting new people, Al Leeming strange and ominous video, Matt Waruszynski’s sexual fruit, Ross Butter’s crude children’s song, and Luke Bourne animation being the most revolting one out of the others, in the best way. The host himself also submitted his own work with some assistance about twin foetuses not having enough space and one final animation that was handed in at the last minutes.

 

The few that stand out personally were Fraser Ntukula CGI paper animation of a dog licking various then later get licked by one person, a very pleasant and light hearted short to watch with it paper like style and joyful tone of a dog sharing his love to other and in return is given the exact same love and attention from a regular person. His other Low poly short called ‘Mightier’ heavily emphasising on the metaphor ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’ having both the pen and sword duel each other to the death to see which is mightier.

The fighting sequence between the two is quite a spectacle having a heroic and prideful sword face against a regular office ink pen, with it visuals and sound design that is heavily reference to very earlier sprites base video games, though both are entirely 3D models. Capturing the aesthetics of a 16 bite game having a sense of charm to it and the 2D sprites that have transition well into the 3^rd dimension. Along with the choreograph fight showcasing both of the objects fighting styles, the sword slashing recklessly whereas the pen would patiently wait, dodging various attacks elegantly until the pen find an opportunity to strike down his opponent completely.

The style and presentation of the short is the main selling point, though the pen and sword are charming and do have a sense of character to them, with both of their designs to being made into a high class group and where the only difference between them is through their first appearance and fighting style. The sword is animated to be this destructive and daring opponent and the pen having a much smooth and graceful movements presenting as someone that is very strategic and plan ahead before achieve his goal. Though the goal is very obvious to spot from the moment the sword appears and begin fighting, that one of them want to see who is the strongest and come out the victor, a classic tale between two warriors in an intense duel with different ideals and personality but done into something that is fun and entertaining.

 

Ross Butter’s dark humours nursing rhyme has brought many reactions most notable disgust, starting with a little girl singing about her hunger and the food offer to her wouldn’t be to her exact taste. Instead eats her snot, ear wax and nails from her hands and toes, it wouldn’t be just her as the song carries on other people start joining in with her making the experience of this animation feel more digesting then it is now. Ross’s animation has brought an urge of sickening that is something that I don’t feel as much from other animation, even though I can’t taste all those things it make feel like I have eaten them before and came out unpleasant. Bringing that feeling to life from just a 2D animated is quite the accomplishment.

       

From the various shorts that have many different themes and all the animators to speak about their work in a very casual tone, this kind of festival is where many animators come and show-off their work while being let loose and have fun, it a good chance for any animation students who are seeking for contacts and to be notice.

The event was enjoyable being able to attend and seeing a variety of animations with the animators present as well make the experience quite intriguing, as well as being able to submit your own work either you’re a professional or student anyone can participate, that I plan to submit my own work to the festival in August as they are holding it in other months as well. So that I can experience of my work being seen by an actual audience and seeing their reactions and hearing their response and possible gain a few connections.