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Spheres

Name: Spheres
Duration: 7 min

Norman McLaren & René Jodoin

1969 | 7 min

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Synopsis
Education & Study Guides

This animated short by Norman McLaren and René Jodoin is a play on motion set against a background of multi-hued sky. Spheres of translucent pearl float weightlessly in the unlimited panorama of the sky, grouping, regrouping or colliding like the stylized burst of some atomic chain reaction. The dance is set to the musical cadences of Bach, played by pianist Glenn Gould.

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<iframe src="https://www.nfb.ca/film/spheres/embed/player/" width="(( width ))" height="(( height ))" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true"></iframe><p style="width:(( width ))px"><a href="https://www.nfb.ca/film/spheres/" target="_blank"><em>Spheres</em></a><span>, </span><a href="https://www.nfb.ca/directors/norman-mclaren/" title="more films by Norman McLaren" target="_blank"><span>Norman McLaren</span></a><span> & </span><a href="https://www.nfb.ca/directors/rene-jodoin/" title="more films by René Jodoin" target="_blank"><span>René Jodoin</span></a><span>, </span><a href="https://www.nfb.ca" target="_blank">provided by the National Film Board of Canada</a></p>

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Credits

director

Norman McLaren

René Jodoin
producer

Norman McLaren

René Jodoin
animation

Norman McLaren

René Jodoin
music

Glenn Gould

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Gould and McLaren, can't imagine how blessed I am!
John Weligon, 16 Apr 2019
Wear your ear phones when watching this because you can faintly hear Glenn Gould humming as he plays.
sixam, 15 Jul 2015
Spheres is a magical blend of motion and music, in a way which easily reveals the underlying harmony of all existence.
tjdix, 10 May 2011
I am 48 years old and I remember Spheres from my childhood. Watching it again just sparked a reflection on how being exposed to this film at age 7 or 8 has influenced a present creative project I'm undertaking. An unexpected and different trip down one of memories lanes. Its cool being Canadian.
KathyMarch, 9 Mar 2011

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