Michael Dudok de Wit

Inauguro una nueva sección, en la que iré exponiendo aquellas personas del mundo del arte que, por diferentes motivos, me hayan causado un gran impacto. Son la respuesta a la típica pregunta que se le hace a los artistas (porque yo ahora, mama, quiero ser artista)  – ¿Quiénes han sido tu inspiración? – Ellos (y ellas).

Este primer caso, como no podía ser menos, pertenece al mundo de la animación. Dudok de Wit, nacido en Holanda en 1953, es un animador, ilustrador y director con una sensibilidad excepcional. Además ha sabido crear un estilo visual propio, aunque basado en las ilustraciones al agua japonesas (o eso dicen). Hasta la fecha ha hecho 5 cortos, siendo su gran obra maestra “Father and Daughter”, por la que consiguió entre otros un Óscar, un BAFTA y el Gran Premio de Annecy (como suele decirse, el “oscar” de la animación no hollywoodiense). Se dedica profesionalmente a realizar anuncios y demás contenido para TV, además de ilustrar libros, escribirlos y dar clases.

Para no hablar tonterías os dejo simplemente con algunos de sus cortos.

Tom Sweep - 1992

The monk and the fish - 1994

Father and daughter - 2000

The aroma of tea - 2006

I’m in awe of this film. It has a big heart.

Michael Dudok de Wit is a master animator and the creator of this short from 2000, which has deservedly won an Oscar, Bafta, Grand Prix at Annecy and a dozen other awards.

It’s called Father and Daughter, and really needs to be seen by any creator who wants an emotional reaction to their work.

It’s a wonderful and inspiring piece of work, not just because it is superb from a technical point of view (that alone should be an example to all interaction designers) but mostly because of the strong feelings it throws up – it’s hard not to be affected, and even drawn to tears.

Wikipedia has this to say about him:

Michael Dudok de Wit (born in 1953, Holland) is an animator, director and illustrator. In 1978, he graduated from the West Surrey College of Art with his first film The Interview. After working for a year in Barcelona, he settled in London where he directs and animates award-winning commercials for television and cinema. In 1992, he created the short film Tom Sweep, followed by The Monk and the Fish (1994), which was made in France with the studio Folimage. This film was nominated for an Oscar and has won numerous prizes including a César Award for Best Short Film and the Cartoon d’Or. Michael also writes and illustrates children’s picture books and teaches animation at art colleges in England and abroad.

His most well-known film Father and Daughter (2000) won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, the Grand Prix at Annecy, and dozens of other major awards. His most recent short film is “The Aroma of Tea” (2006), drawn entirely with tea.

All of his films since Tom Sweep feature Michael’s trademark brush stroke drawing and his use of ink and watercolour, very much inspired by Chinese and Japanese art.

Check out his other masterpieces below and some of his advertising work on the ACMEfilmworks site.

Tom Sweep (1992)

The Monk and the Fish (1994)

The Aroma of Tea (2006)

PS - get this book: Secrets of Oscar-winning Animation: Behind the Scenes of 13 Classic Short Animations

PSS – If you speak French, you can read an extract from the book about Father and Daughter on the publisher’s site and read an interview with the director.

It doesn’t matter if you were born a boy or a girl, the relationship one shares with the father is very special. These relationships and the feelings around them are so complex and often difficult to put into words, which is probably why you see them show up in art all the time. Just recently I saw two videos that dealt with just this topic and both are pearls. One is an 8 minute animation done with watercolors which shows the relationship between a father and his daughter. The other is a son and it’s music video, also an animation, which deals with the relationship between a father and his son. Both deal with the topic with such tenderness and beauty that they really touched my heart and I made me want to share them. Give yourself the joy of seeing these treasures and give your father the joy of hearing how special he is to you. Dad, I admire and love you with all my heart (Happy Birthday! April 18, 2008).

Father and Daughter by Michael Dudok de Wit
For more information about him see his filmography on IMDB. His webpage is currently under construction, but on youtube you can see many of his animations.

The JBC Song by Nizlopi
Nizlopi is a a duo from the UK with a great acoustic sound and a carefree and unprotentious view on life. Visit their website www.nizlopi.com or their www.myspace.com/nizlopi.

Thank you to two great friends who are constantly inspiring me with beautiful treasures, Catherine and Anna.

No importa si uno es nacio niño o niña, la relación que uno tiene con su padre es muy especial. Esas relaciones y sentimientos tan complejos de decribir o poner en palabras se ven comunmente reflejados en el arte. Hace poco vi dos videos que tratan justamente ese tema y ambos son perlas. Una es una pelicula animada hecha con acuarelas de 8 minutos y trata la relación entre una hija y su padre. La otra es una canción y su video musical, también animada, que trata la relación entre un hijo y su padre. Ambos tratan el tema con tanta belleza y ternura que me revolvieron el corazón y los quiero compartir. Dense el gusto de verlas y denle el gusto a vuestros padre de hacerles saber lo especial que son para vosotros. Papá, te admiro y amo con todo mi corazón (¡Feliz cumpleaños! abril 18, 2008).

Padre e Hija de Michael Dudok de Wit
Para mas información sobre el visiten su filmografia en IMDB. Su página web esta por el momento bajo construcción, pero en youtube se pueden ver muchas de sus animaciones.

La canción del JCB (tractor) del grupo Nizlopi
Nizlopi es un duo Ingles que tiene un sonido acustico fabuloso y una visión descomplicada y hermosa de la vida. Visiten su pagina www.nizlopi.com o su pagina www.myspace.com/nizlopi.

Gracias a dos amigas que constantemente me inspiran con esta clase de tesoros, Anna y Catherine!