The Media Arts & Culture (MAC) department presented a screening of the 19th Annual Animation Show of Shows Sept. 29 in Choi Auditorium. The Animation Show of Shows (ASOS) is an annual compilation of animated short films curated by Ron Diamond, producer and founder of ASOS.
The screening showcased a selection of 16 animated short films from around the world, each offering a unique perspective on the human experience.
According to Diamond, the ASOS began as a way to present films of lesser-known animators that had to compete with large studios such as Pixar and Disney. In 2015, Diamond said he wanted more people to see the show and began curating the show for public audiences and that it is often a subjective process.
“[The films] should be somewhat entertaining,” Diamond said. “Do you have to like the characters? No, you don’t have to like the characters. Does it have to be challenging sometimes? Yeah, sometimes you’re not really going to get it, [but] maybe you will.”
According to Diamond, the show is structured with the general audience in mind.
“First, I get their confidence,” Diamond said. “I’ll show them one or two really strong films, and then I’ll sneak in a film that’s kind of like, ‘What?’ But 10 percent of people who saw it are going to be like, ‘Oh my God.’”
Professor Amanda Tasse of the MAC department said she invited Diamond to show the ASOS at Occidental for the first time last year.
“I think it’s just really valuable for students to get a little bit more exposure and experience with [animation],” Tasse said. “[Animation] is everywhere, and in many ways, is incredibly tied up with the current and future state of cinema.”
According to Tasse, she saw many iterations of ASOS while she was a student, and always found one or two films that inspired her.
“I hope [for everyone] there was at least one, if not a few films that really spoke to them and resonated on some level.” Tasse said.
Addie Fabel (sophomore), a MAC major, said she was inspired by the range of stories told through the medium of animation.
“Viewing super abstract things opens our minds to new perspectives,” Fabel said. “It’s not often that you can see from the perspective of a molecule.”
Sarah Cook (senior), a MAC major, said her favorite films were “Tiny Big” (2017), “Next Door” (1990) and “My Burden” (2017) due to their abstract and whimsical storytelling.
“A lot of things that are conveyed [in these films] may not be understood by younger audiences,” Cook said. “But [these films] all had aspects of humanity and the human condition, and animation is something that isn’t confined to reality, so I think there’s something for everyone.”
The Program
“Can You Do It” (2016) by Quentin Baillieux
“Tiny Big” (2017) by Lia Bertels
“Next Door” (1990) by Pete Docter
“The Alan Dimension” (2016) by Jac Clinch
“Beautiful Like Elsewhere” (2017) by Elise Simard
“Hangman” (1964, restored 2017) by Paul Julian and Les Goldman
“The Battle of San Romano” (2017) by Georges Schwizgebel
“Gokurosama” (2016) by Clémentine Frère, Aurore Gal, Yukiko Meignien, Anna Mertz, Robin Migliorelli, Romain Salvini
“Dear Basketball” (2017) by Glen Keane
“Island” (2017) by Max Mörtl and Robert Löbel
“Unsatisfying” (2016) by Parallel Studio
“My Burden” (2017) by Niki Lindroth von Bahr
“Les Abeilles Domestiques” (2017) (Domestic Bees) by Alexanne Desrosiers
“Our Wonderful Nature: The Common Chameleon” (2016) by Tomer Eshed
“Casino” (2016) by Steven Woloshen
“Everything” (2017) by David OReilly
View the full show here, as well as past shows.
Contact Sabastian Luyen at luyen@oxy.edu
10/11/23: This story was updated at 6:08 pm to correct links to the films.
