Category: NYICFF

NYICFF 2014: Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart

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narutaki_icon_4040 Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart hails from France. It was created as a “rock opera” based on the concept album, La Mécanique du Cœur.

The film begins with a sequence of the “coldest day ever” where we see the town go from snowy to frozen over in stunning fashion. The gothic spires, twisty streets, and angular architecture evoke just the type of macabre visual style that I love. The style becomes ever more realized as the movie goes on introducing things like an accordion stream train (seriously, this was so cool) and a sideshow filled to the brim with odd characters.

Additionally, a couple of scenes which melt into one another and back again are a dizzying delight. And the dream sequences of Jack and Acacia have a lot of charm.

The combination of imagination and technical detail was incredible in Jack and the Cuckoo Clock Heart.

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NYICFF 2014: Foosball

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narutaki_icon_4040 Foosball broke all box offices records in its native country Argentina and lucky for us New York International Children’s Film Fest had a chance to show us what the fuss was about.

Big personalities are the star of this fast and funny foosball (and soccer) story. The movie’s CG animation alone is reason to see it, easily on par with what we have seen come out of a big studios in the U.S.

 

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NYICFF 2014: Anina

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narutaki_icon_4040 And the winner for Best Hair at the New York International Film Festival goes to . . . Anina!

Anina is a charming film from Uruguay. And happened to be on my most wanted list from last year’s international animated film releases.

The style in Anina will strike you first as you can plainly see. It has a cut paper-quality complete with angular and somewhat awkward motion. The layers of a scene as well as the colors and washes bring a folksy simplicity to the movie which is carried through in the narrative.

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