Animation by René Jodoin

December 20, 2015 6:21 PM

Spheres is a short 1969 animation by René Jodoin and Norman McLaren, soundtrack by Glenn Gould, published by the National Film Board of Canada.

René Jodoin (1920-2015) directed and produced animation director and founded the French-language animation studio of the National Film Board of Canada. He produced about 10 films altogether.
Bio page at NFB
Playlist of videos at NFB (Rectangle and Rectangles has bright flashing lights)
Dance Squared (SLYT)
Obit

posted by carter (11 comments total)

That was cool.

Related?
posted by Confess, Fletch at 6:36 PM on December 20, 2015

Also potentially related
posted by pxe2000 at 6:43 PM on December 20, 2015 [2 favorites]

The NFB is awesome. I had not seen this NFB film before: Madame Tutli Putli
posted by benzenedream at 6:43 PM on December 20, 2015

I pressed the space bar and the arrow keys, but the game didn't respond. No manual available online. 1/5, will not play again.
posted by happyroach at 8:25 PM on December 20, 2015 [1 favorite]

I pressed the space bar and the arrow keys, but the game didn't respond. No manual available online. 1/5, will not play again.

This is just what happens when you leave Gravity Ghost on after the game ends. Speaking of, it's been nearly a year, I should go replay it.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:42 PM on December 20, 2015

I like how nothing moved in a path best described by a spline.
posted by aubilenon at 10:50 PM on December 20, 2015

Good post. Thank you.
posted by Wolfdog at 4:27 AM on December 21, 2015

. . . soundtrack by Glenn Gould. . .

Well, soundtrack by J.S. Bach (The Well-Tempered Clavier) performed by Glenn Gould. But that doesn't make it any less lovely.
posted by The Bellman at 7:24 AM on December 21, 2015 [1 favorite]

I watched it before clicking into the thread and though "This reminds me of Dance Squared." Lo and behold, Jodoin also did Dance Squared. I remember that one from a math camp. I thought it was ok, but the fact that the other people there kept wanting to watch it over and over eventually soured me to it.

Still, this was a great post.
posted by Hactar at 7:33 AM on December 21, 2015

We were more easily amused in those days. These things used to play before the art films back in the 60's, like the Bugs Bunny cartoons did in the mainstream theaters.
posted by kozad at 7:56 AM on December 21, 2015

I think I've seen a clip from this in an Alamo Drafthouse pre-show.
posted by immlass at 8:47 AM on December 21, 2015