Delhiites recently had the opportunity to see the best of animation films from Canada.

 The High Commission of Canada screened ‘Animation Greats: A compilation of eight favourite NFB animation shorts’ followed by a workshop at CD Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre. With such exciting films in the offing, both adults and kids just couldn’t have enough.

The High Commission of Canada organises this festival of feature, documentary and animation films from Canada during summer vacations every year. Its spokesperson remarked on the occasion, “We are very happy to bring Canada’s best animation shorts to Delhi. These are rare films usually not screened elsewhere. Besides having an exciting format, they also have value-based stories making them ideal for viewing by kids.”The first movie to be screened was Richard Condie’s Oscar nominee, The Big Snit.

It portrays one day in the life of a squabbling, scrabble-playing couple unaware that a nuclear war is going on just outside their house. It was followed by another Oscar nominee, Blackfly. Cordell Barker’s Blackfly shows a folk singer battle with a pesky insect in the woods of north Ontario, seen as Canada’s reply to India’s Makkhi.

The Cat Came Back was the next in line. Again, this Oscar nominated movie shows a hilarious attempt to get rid of a little yellow cat. On the other hand, in Getting Started, procrastination is taken to new heights with the absurd tale of a man avoiding piano practice. Martin Barry’s Juke-Bar — a musical comedy combining puppet animation with live action, made everyone smile.

The audience got a taste of the NRI life with Lights for Gita. It is the story of Gita, an 8-year-old girl, who can’t wait to celebrate Diwali in her new home in Canada. But the weather is cold and grey and a terrible ice storm puts off the lights. Obviously, a Diwali celebration now is impossible. 

Or is it? 

How People Got Fire by Daniel Janke was another take on the importance of light in our lives.

Lastly, Big Drive by Anita Lebeau recounted the story of a family road trip across the Canadian prairies in the 1970s. Four sisters squeeze into the back of the family car for a long journey.

While the parents keep a steady watch on the road ahead, restlessness gradually gives way to mayhem in the car’s close quarters. All in all, it was a festival packed with fun and knowledge.