Guy Lochhead, 30/10/11
French animator whose work is richly detailed, drawing on his studies of the decorative arts. His subject matter is often foreign, telling folktales or original stories set in Africa and Arabia. This fascination may have come from a childhood spent in Guinea. His best known films are probably ‘Les Trois Inventeurs’, ‘Kirikou et la sorcière’ and ‘Azur et Asmar’. He has been widely recognised in much of mainland Europe and Japan, becoming president of the International Animated Film Association and receiving many awards, but his (realistic, non-sexual) use of nudity in ‘Kirikou…’ has meant his work is rarely shown in England or America. These films are absolutely stunning and it’s so, so sad and stupid that they aren’t even more widely known. They are as magical as the better Disney films but not as prejudiced and destructive. They look at other cultures with a naive but inoffensive sort of exoticism – child-like rather than just misinformed. And they take a lot of effort, in both traditional and modern formats. I will include ‘Les Trois Inventeurs’, ‘Kirikou et la sorcière’ and ‘Azur et Asmar’. Beauuuutiful!