MCC Daily Tribune

International Animation Day, October 28

“The Second World War left deep scars. Raoul Servais’s work often reflects an aversion to senseless violence and oppression. In ‘Chromophobia,’ an army of grey soldiers robs the world of its colour. With symbols and graphic elaborations, the dark memories of the war years are inflected with humour and playfulness.” [Raoul Servais, interviewed by Swinnen & Deneulin, 2008]

More than fifty years later, ‘Chromophobia’ remains a topical film. It was made after Servais received funding from the Film Division of the Ministry of National Education. Given carte blanche, he follow his vision. The film was submitted for competition at the Venice Film Festival in 1966 and won First Prize in the short film category. It was Raoul Servais first international breakthrough.

In appreciation for an international community of artists, please take a few moments — open your eyes, ears and hearts to celebrate ‘International Animation Day’ by watching the 1965 film ‘Chromophobia,’ by the Belgian animator Raoul Servais (Video).

Thanks all — be safe and stay well.

From, MCC’s Institute for The Humanities and The Mercer Gallery 
For students interested in animation, consider these two courses for future study: AAD 101 - Introduction to Animation and AAD 256 - Motion Graphics.

International Animation Day, commemorates the first public performance of Charles-Émile Reynaud’s Théâtre Optique at the Grevin Museum in Paris, 1892. An observance, International Animation Day was proclaimed by The International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) as a global event to celebrate the art of animation.

James Downer
Institute for The Humanities and The Mercer Gallery
10/28/2022