Not only did Norman McLaren create his own film imagery, he also made his own music by drawing, etching and photographing patterns directly onto the sound track area of the film, becoming a pioneer of electronic music long before the invention of the synthesizer. Norman McLaren: Animated Musician celebrates this exploration and presents much never-before-seen work by this master of cinema.
Ideal for students of animation or musical composition. Compare McLaren’s intent and process in Loops (1940) to the combination of music, sound and animation in a contemporary film such as Disney’s Fantasia. Why do you think McLaren was inspired by an avant-garde composer like John Cage? Discuss the legacy of McLaren’s innovations and their influence on other filmmakers, artists, and animators. Use McLaren’s techniques to produce your own composition on a one-minute strip of film.