film morning 3

Spring is coming, the sun is coming out from behind the clouds, and nature is reawakening. This animated film merges various techniques, styles and textures. Hurriedly sketched out animals, pastel-coloured backgrounds intersperse with strong outlines of branches, shapes are played with (flowers are made from traces of lipstick, and buds resemble tennis balls), and the rattle and clatter of Han Bennink’s percussion adds to all of this. In this film, you can actually hear the whole of the meadow and the rhythm of spring.

The hare and the owl don’t believe the hedgehog can build a hut. The hedgehog tries, but the hut just won’t hold together and he abandons the project. A witch appears and builds a quaint house with a single spell. What is more difficult, carpentry or witchcraft? Both the hedgehog and witch learn something on that day. Cut-out animation combines with realistic background design that wonderfully enlivens the narrated story.

Hedgehog does not feel like going ice-skating – it’s cold, unpleasant, and he’d rather stay home. The owl and hare try to talk him into it, because it’s rare the pond is so frozen over. Someone is already trying to skate on the glittering ice. It’s the witch, just learning to ice skate. She wants to be mean and frightening, but wants to hear complements even more. The hare and the owl know how to deal with her, but the hedgehog must learn something new.

An elephant meets a snail. They greet each other, exchange pleasantries, and suddenly it begins to rain. The snail crawls out of its shell and politely invites the elephant in. Will the elephant fit? What are the consequences of a carefree nod of the head? And why, at times, are tiny catastrophes useful? A surprising tale, sprinkled with subtle jokes, and a simple, sparse, but inventive animation style. Sometimes, it makes sense to look at the world from the snail’s point of view, and at others from that of a drop of rain.

Eefje wants to create an entertainment program. He has a set design, equipment, even recorded audience laughter. The only thing missing is a host. The ideal candidate is his mother; together they host a cooking show on French toast (in Dutch the name Wentelteefje means ‘French toast’). When the bread runs out, Eefje runs to a nearby bakery, leaving his mother to entertain the audience. Computer animation is combined with puppetry, creating a crazy collage.