American animators in the 1970s and 1980s often turned their attention inward, producing personal films which corresponded to the deeply introspective diary filmmakers that formed a key part of the New American Cinema the previous decade. Representing oneself in a mediated fashion – not only through the moving image but graphically through animation – became particularly important during this period in which more women were active in the field of animation than ever before. From spoken autobiography to allegorical fantasy, artists such as Frank Mouris, Ayoka Chenzira, Sky David and Kathy Rose found ways to intertwine their lives and personalities between the frames of their animated films.
Gary Beydler
Hand Held Day 1975
film still
Courtesy Canyon Cinema
Programme
Ayoka Chenzira, Hair Piece: A Film for Nappy-Headed People, USA 1985, digital, colour, sound, 10 min
Provided by Cinenova
Frank and Caroline Mouris, Frank Film, USA 1973, DCP, colour, sound, 10 min
Provided by the Academy Film Archive, courtesy the artists
Lisze Bechtold, Moon Breath Beat, USA 1981, 35mm, colour, sound, 5 min
Print courtesy the Academy Film Archive
Lisa Crafts, Glass Gardens, USA 1982, 16mm, black and white, sound, 5 min
Print courtesy the artist
Sky David (formerly Dennis Pies), Ace of Light, USA 1984, 35mm, colour, sound, 8 min
Print preserved by the Academy Film Archive, courtesy the artist
Karen Aqua, Vis-á-Vis, USA 1982, 16mm, colour, sound, 12 min
Print courtesy Harvard Film Archive
Kathy Rose, Pencil Booklings, USA 1978, 16mm, colour, sound, 14 min
Print preserved by the Academy Film Archive
Joanna Priestley, Voices, USA 1985, 16mm, colour, sound, 4 min
Print courtesy the Academy Film Archive
Gary Beydler, Hand Held Day, USA 1975, 16mm, colour, sound, 6 min
Print courtesy Canyon Cinema