Film of the Day: 73

The Illusionist (2010)

As a child, one of the many things that brought me joy were cartoons. I couldn't get enough of cartoons. Everyday in the morning I'd watch a cartoon show while having my cereal before catching the school bus, not to mention the great Saturday morning cartoons.

Some say it all started with Gertie the Dinosaur from 1914, yet this is not however the first cartoon, it is the first cartoon in America. But the first ever fully animated film was from France. In 1908 a man named Émile Cohl showed Fantasmagorie (A Fantasy) for the first time ever in Paris.

This 2 minuted film had no plot, it just showed a man drawing a stick-man which came to life and morphed into many odd objects surrounded by other morphing objects. This film of course was just made to show the world what he can do as it had no structure of any sort, but what an accomplishment. Thus leading to one of the first major cartoon characters, Felix the Cat from 1919.

Last year, France released a terrific animated film named The Illusionist. It was directed by Sylvain Chomet who also directed The Triplets of Belleville from 2003. It is a wonderfully drawn film filled with magic and escapism. Set in 1959 in Paris, London & Scotland, A down on his luck illusionist leaves Paris for London in hope of success.

There, whilst doing one of his small parties, gets invited to Scotland by a drunk at the party. He accepts the invitation and set foot for his journey to one of the Scottish Islands with his short tempered rabbit, where he meets a little girl who thinks he is a real magician. The illusionist is taken by this little girl and is constantly buying her gifts, like a beautiful pair of red shoes.

A scene from Fantasmagorie (1908)

She has much affection for the man, so much so that she even tames the rabbit. However the illusionist is still stuck in meaningless little demeaning with minor wages, and girl even finds herself a boyfriend. The most impressive thing about the film is the direction and style. It is almost as though the director believes in magic and the pacing of the film is perfect.

Truly one of the best animated films of 2010 (along with My Dog Tulip and Sita Sings the Blues) however out-shinned by the colossal successes of (and losing the Oscar to) Toy Story 3, yet still one of the most magical experiences in recent animated film.

Click here for the trailer