Frames of Innovation: 85 Years of Animation Breakthroughs at the NFB
From Norman McLaren’s pioneering work in the 1940s and groundbreaking stereoscopic films in the 1950s to contemporary stop-motion films, the NFB has continually pushed the boundaries of animation. This talk traces an extraordinary creative journey through 85 years of innovation, beginning with McLaren’s experiments and extending to the first computer-generated animation projects of the 1960s and early 1970s. It explores advances in 2D computer graphics and 3D computer-generated imagery in the 1980s, as well as landmark artistic achievements and experimental techniques that garnered international acclaim. The story continues with developments in 3D animation during the 2000s and 2010s, culminating in the resurgence and reinvention of stop-motion animation in the 2020s. Through iconic films and technological milestones, this talk examines how the NFB has repeatedly redefined the possibilities of animated cinema.
