The Little Island (film): Difference between revisions
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'''''The Little Island''''' is a 1959 British animated short film<ref>[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/richard-williamss-the-little-island-1958-5155.html The Little Island by Richard Williams-Cartoon Brew]</ref> directed, produced, and animated by [[Richard Williams (animator)|Richard Williams]].<ref name="cartoonresearch.com6">{{cite web|url=http://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/cartoons-considered-for-an-academy-award-1958/|title=Cartoons Considered For An Academy Award – 1958 -|website=cartoonresearch.com}}</ref> |
'''''The Little Island''''' is a 1959 British animated short film<ref>[https://www.cartoonbrew.com/shorts/richard-williamss-the-little-island-1958-5155.html The Little Island by Richard Williams-Cartoon Brew]</ref> directed, produced, and animated by [[Richard Williams (animator)|Richard Williams]].<ref name="cartoonresearch.com6">{{cite web|url=http://cartoonresearch.com/index.php/cartoons-considered-for-an-academy-award-1958/|title=Cartoons Considered For An Academy Award – 1958 -|website=cartoonresearch.com}}</ref> |
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==Plot== |
==Plot== |
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{{long plot|date=October 2018}} |
{{long plot|date=October 2018}} |
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The film features three men who |
The film features three men who believe in only one thing: Good, Truth, and Beauty. They cast themselves onto a small island, sitting next to each other. Many days pass, and they begin to express themselves. It starts in small ways, simply making noise. The three begin to annoy each other, and they stop. As more time passes, however, they begin to express their ideas. |
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Truth is first. He sits in yoga positions and |
Truth is first. He sits in yoga positions and projects shapes like suns, lotus flowers, and four almond-shaped eyes. These eyes move around in strange patterns before becoming part of a four-eyed demon who dances for a moment, then explodes. A pinball bounces between many pairs of eyes, building up speed before landing on Truth's head, which causes him to visualize an expanding shape and reveals itself to be a vast, beautiful flower. The shape collapses, which stuns Truth from his trance, much to his embarrassment. |
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Beauty performs ballet and transforms into a [[Nubian people|Nubian]] figure. He morphs into calligraphy-like shapes before changing to his normal shape |
Beauty performs ballet and transforms into a [[Nubian people|Nubian]] figure. He morphs into calligraphy-like shapes before changing to his normal shape in a white robe. He begins to play the flute, flowers growing around him as he plays faster and faster before he becomes one himself. A Greek statue of a woman appears. The [[William Tell Overture|''William Tell'' Overture]] begins to play, and a tall man and a short man carrying a frame walk up to the statue and "capture" it inside it, removing its head and base. They walk on as the Overture plays, but the picture soon splits in half since the men walk at different speeds. Confused, they put it back together after several odd attempts and soon climb a long staircase with it. They climb high up into the sky into an art gallery, where it's placed with hundreds of identical pictures, except for one. |
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This picture shows a scene where a small head, in profile, sees an object and begins to talk happily about it, his speaking expressed by a cello playing. Another man comes next to him, facing him, and sees the object |
This picture shows a scene where a small head, in profile, sees an object and begins to talk happily about it, his speaking expressed by a cello playing. Another man comes next to him, facing him, and sees the object. He discusses it with him, but the two heads begin arguing harshly. A pillar grows from under the left head, making him sit above the other. He responds by growing another column underneath him, and the two heads quickly try to [[One-upmanship|one-up]] each other, their columns growing and their arguing becoming worse. Soon, they can't go any higher and push themselves into each other, forming a babbling head in front view. The scene zooms out to show dozens of these heads on high columns, chattering away. Beauty's vision ends here, and he bows to the other two. |
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Good expresses himself next, kissing the other two and dancing. He transforms into a figure with a robe, begins to make noises like a [[pipe organ]], then transforms into a church-like structure with an [[onion dome]]. Small black figures go through a door at his base |
Good expresses himself next, kissing the other two and dancing. He transforms into a figure with a robe, begins to make noises like a [[pipe organ]], and then transforms into a church-like structure with an [[onion dome]]. Small black figures go through a door at his base and turn white as they go through it. He transforms into a warrior with a giant sword and shield, blood running down his sword, before returning to his old shape. A beautiful woman approaches and tries to seduce him, but he pushes her away. Another figure offers him wine, but he flattens him with a hammer and transforms into a futuristic warrior with a ray gun. A large heart emerges from the ray gun and shatters, breaking his meditation. He looks at them, embarrassed. |
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More time passes, and Beauty starts to express himself again, changing into the Nubian figure with a harp, playing a repetitive tune and swishing his long hair. This annoys Good, who responds by gathering |
More time passes, and Beauty starts to express himself again, changing into the Nubian figure with a harp, playing a repetitive tune and swishing his long hair. This annoys Good, who responds by gathering more miniature figures to join hands around him and playing the same song back at him. Truth, hovering overhead, is annoyed at both of them. After trying to outdo each other, they all abruptly change back. Soon, though, Beauty is at it again, and Good responds by forming into a warrior with a [[blunderbuss]], and a small army gathers around him. Initially concerned, Beauty responds by changing into the Nubian figure with a [[Foil (fencing)|fencing foil]]. Reasonable attempts to shoot him, but Beauty dodges his shots, skewers his army (after a long dance), and starts playing them like his harp, which infuriates Good. |
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Truth hovers above, angry at the both of them |
Truth hovers above, angry at the both of them and after a sporadic fit, a snake coils around him, possibly representing the [[caduceus]]. After this, they all change back, but Good and Beauty plot against each other. Good raises his fist, which grows and grows until it hovers over him and flattens him, possibly representing punishment for thinking evil thoughts. Good grows into a colossal monster, ten times the size of the other two, but the fist bears down on him again each time he does. In response, Beauty turns back into the figure, this time with a bow and arrow, and shoots the fist to Good's alarm. A drop of blood falls on Good, which sends him into a rage as Beauty cockily plays his tune on his bow. He changes into the monster, grabs Beauty, throws him against the ground, and kicks him. He pulls off his hair and throws it back at him, which causes Beauty to lose his temper, and he transforms into a similar monster to fight Good. |
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Good and Beauty approach each other with daggers and soon run into each other. They get tangled up |
Good and Beauty approach each other with daggers and soon run into each other. They get tangled up and soon start to resemble a bull. Up above, tangled in the Caduceus, Truth is angry at them. He puts on a lab coat, and the Caduceus transforms into a chemistry coil. Good and Beauty soon appear to transform into a machine, with tank treads, nuts, and rivets appearing across their bodies, much to Truth's dismay. He walks over to a chalkboard and begins to write formulas on it. As he does, it grows and grows and eventually takes on the shape of a giant [[nuclear bomb]], 100 times his size, pointed down at them. He doesn't notice it initially until it begins to tick. The ticking builds and builds as the three look on, terrified. It soon explodes, and the three men change back. Horrified by this vision, they immediately leave the island. |
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==References== |
==References== |
Revision as of 08:52, 10 May 2024
The Little Island | |
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Directed by | Richard Williams[1] |
Written by | Richard Williams |
Produced by | Richard Williams |
Music by | Tristram Cary[2] |
Distributed by | J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors |
Release date |
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Running time | 33 minutes |
Land | United Kingdom[3] |
Sprache | Englisch |
The Little Island is a 1959 British animated short film[4] directed, produced, and animated by Richard Williams.[5]
Plot
![]() | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (October 2018) |
The film features three men who believe in only one thing: Good, Truth, and Beauty. They cast themselves onto a small island, sitting next to each other. Many days pass, and they begin to express themselves. It starts in small ways, simply making noise. The three begin to annoy each other, and they stop. As more time passes, however, they begin to express their ideas.
Truth is first. He sits in yoga positions and projects shapes like suns, lotus flowers, and four almond-shaped eyes. These eyes move around in strange patterns before becoming part of a four-eyed demon who dances for a moment, then explodes. A pinball bounces between many pairs of eyes, building up speed before landing on Truth's head, which causes him to visualize an expanding shape and reveals itself to be a vast, beautiful flower. The shape collapses, which stuns Truth from his trance, much to his embarrassment.
Beauty performs ballet and transforms into a Nubian figure. He morphs into calligraphy-like shapes before changing to his normal shape in a white robe. He begins to play the flute, flowers growing around him as he plays faster and faster before he becomes one himself. A Greek statue of a woman appears. The William Tell Overture begins to play, and a tall man and a short man carrying a frame walk up to the statue and "capture" it inside it, removing its head and base. They walk on as the Overture plays, but the picture soon splits in half since the men walk at different speeds. Confused, they put it back together after several odd attempts and soon climb a long staircase with it. They climb high up into the sky into an art gallery, where it's placed with hundreds of identical pictures, except for one.
This picture shows a scene where a small head, in profile, sees an object and begins to talk happily about it, his speaking expressed by a cello playing. Another man comes next to him, facing him, and sees the object. He discusses it with him, but the two heads begin arguing harshly. A pillar grows from under the left head, making him sit above the other. He responds by growing another column underneath him, and the two heads quickly try to one-up each other, their columns growing and their arguing becoming worse. Soon, they can't go any higher and push themselves into each other, forming a babbling head in front view. The scene zooms out to show dozens of these heads on high columns, chattering away. Beauty's vision ends here, and he bows to the other two.
Good expresses himself next, kissing the other two and dancing. He transforms into a figure with a robe, begins to make noises like a pipe organ, and then transforms into a church-like structure with an onion dome. Small black figures go through a door at his base and turn white as they go through it. He transforms into a warrior with a giant sword and shield, blood running down his sword, before returning to his old shape. A beautiful woman approaches and tries to seduce him, but he pushes her away. Another figure offers him wine, but he flattens him with a hammer and transforms into a futuristic warrior with a ray gun. A large heart emerges from the ray gun and shatters, breaking his meditation. He looks at them, embarrassed.
More time passes, and Beauty starts to express himself again, changing into the Nubian figure with a harp, playing a repetitive tune and swishing his long hair. This annoys Good, who responds by gathering more miniature figures to join hands around him and playing the same song back at him. Truth, hovering overhead, is annoyed at both of them. After trying to outdo each other, they all abruptly change back. Soon, though, Beauty is at it again, and Good responds by forming into a warrior with a blunderbuss, and a small army gathers around him. Initially concerned, Beauty responds by changing into the Nubian figure with a fencing foil. Reasonable attempts to shoot him, but Beauty dodges his shots, skewers his army (after a long dance), and starts playing them like his harp, which infuriates Good.
Truth hovers above, angry at the both of them and after a sporadic fit, a snake coils around him, possibly representing the caduceus. After this, they all change back, but Good and Beauty plot against each other. Good raises his fist, which grows and grows until it hovers over him and flattens him, possibly representing punishment for thinking evil thoughts. Good grows into a colossal monster, ten times the size of the other two, but the fist bears down on him again each time he does. In response, Beauty turns back into the figure, this time with a bow and arrow, and shoots the fist to Good's alarm. A drop of blood falls on Good, which sends him into a rage as Beauty cockily plays his tune on his bow. He changes into the monster, grabs Beauty, throws him against the ground, and kicks him. He pulls off his hair and throws it back at him, which causes Beauty to lose his temper, and he transforms into a similar monster to fight Good.
Good and Beauty approach each other with daggers and soon run into each other. They get tangled up and soon start to resemble a bull. Up above, tangled in the Caduceus, Truth is angry at them. He puts on a lab coat, and the Caduceus transforms into a chemistry coil. Good and Beauty soon appear to transform into a machine, with tank treads, nuts, and rivets appearing across their bodies, much to Truth's dismay. He walks over to a chalkboard and begins to write formulas on it. As he does, it grows and grows and eventually takes on the shape of a giant nuclear bomb, 100 times his size, pointed down at them. He doesn't notice it initially until it begins to tick. The ticking builds and builds as the three look on, terrified. It soon explodes, and the three men change back. Horrified by this vision, they immediately leave the island.
Production
Self-financed, Richard's first film was a half-hour philosophical argument without words.[6]
Accolades
It won the 1959 BAFTA award for Animated Film.[7]
References
External links
- 1959 films
- 1958 films
- 1958 animated films
- 1958 short films
- 1950s animated short films
- British animated short films
- Films directed by Richard Williams
- Animated films without speech
- Animated films set on islands
- Films with screenplays by Richard Williams (animator)
- Films produced by Richard Williams (animator)
- 1950s rediscovered films
- Rediscovered British films
- 1950s English-language films
- 1950s British films
- Rediscovered animated films
- Films scored by Tristram Cary