Table of Contents

Part One Chapter One - An Informative Drawing Chapter Two - The Early Years Chapter Three - McLaren at the GPO Film Unit Part Two Chapter Four - New York Interlude Chapter Five - Canada Part Three Chapter Six - Technical Processes Chapter Seven - Confluence and Conflict in Synchromy Chapter Eight- Venus and Mars Conclusion Norman McLaren's Chronology Bibliography Interviews, Films and Recordings

Promotional Information

Examines the technical processes McLaren used in making his films and the oscillation shown between abstract and representational imagery

About the Author

Terence Dobson teaches film animation in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Reviews

At last, a full study of McLaren (1914-87), a brilliant pioneer in film animation. Building on Don McWilliam's valuable and extensive work, Dobson (Univ. of Canterbury, New Zealand) weaves insightful analysis, both thematic and technical, with McLaren's drawings and scads of material from personal correspondence and interviews. He is especially adroit on the rare early films--for example, Hell Unlimited (1936), a precursor to his classic Neighbours (1952)--and their roots in McLaren's reading and in his wide engagement in the arts. Dobson devotes separate chapters to McLaren's student days, his time with the GPO Film Unit in the UK, and his New York period before digging into his years at Canada's National Film Board (1941-84). The section on his technical experiments is clear and well illustrated. This handsome, classy book should prove an indispensable companion to the DVD boxed set of McLaren's work (Norman McLaren, the Master's Edition, 2006). Both pay overdue attention to a brilliant, distinctive innovator who balanced the antithetic passions of social concern and abstract art. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers; all levels. -- ChoiceM. Yacowar, formerly, University of Calgary, Jan 2008 "... This handsome, classy book should prove an indispensable companion to the DVD boxed set of McLaren's work (Norman McLaren, the Master's Edition, 2006). Both pay overdue attention to a brilliant, distinctive innovator who balanced the antithetic passions of social concern and abstract art... Highly recommended." -Choice