Norman McLaren: Between the Frames

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This book is available as open access through the Bloomsbury Open Access programme and is available on www.bloomsburycollections.com. Animator Norman McLaren is best known for his experimental films using pioneering techniques and his work as founder of the animation department of the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), but little mention is made of his Scottish heritage or his personal life. Nichola Dobson examines some of the key events and people in his life through a close examination of his key works and his personal papers, and discusses how influential they were. By using archive material to discover his personal identity and close readings of his films, Norman McLaren rediscovers one of the most important figures in animation history. Divided into thematic chapters of significant areas of influence, Dobson analyzes his formative years growing up in Scotland and his relationship with fellow Scot, John Grierson; the international travel which influenced him politically and creatively; the creative arts which played a vital part of his life; his collaborations with other artists and his complex, and rarely discussed, personal life. Each of these chapters considers his key films during those periods with a close detailed analysis and a further examination of his life through his correspondence with family and close friends. By featuring this previously un-published material, the book allows much of the consideration of the work to be in McLarens own words and offers a deep insight into his vast output of films over nearly 50 years.

Reviews

Analyzing a lifetime of Norman McLaren's own letters, Nichola Dobson has provided readers with new perspectives on the life, relationships, and world views of the great Scottish animator, best known for his work at the National Film Board of Canada. Norman McLaren: Between the Frames provides a thoughtfully composed, personal view of one of animation history's most influential figures. * Maureen Furniss, Ph.D., Director, Program in Experimental Animation, CalArts; Founding Editor, Animation Journal *
Norman McLaren's status in the history of animation is undisputed, his experimental spirit and beguiling films marking him out as a vital figure. This fascinating book uses McLaren's personal correspondence from archives at the University of Stirling and the National Library of Scotland to excavate some of the driving forces behind the man and his work. The book examines his relationship with his mentor, John Grierson; his travels to Russia, China, India, Cuba and elsewhere; his political and artistic influences; and his personal life, most notably in his letters home to his family, and via his near-half-century relationship with Guy Glover. Dobson also gives great insight into McLaren's working relationships with other artists, animators and filmmakers, including Grant Munro, Evelyn Lambart, George Dunning and Helen Biggar. * Paul Ward, Professor of Animation Studies, Arts University Bournemouth, UK *

Author Bio

Nichola Dobson is a Lecturer in Animation at Edinburgh College of Art, UK. Founding editor of Animation Studies (2006 - 2011) and Animation Studies 2.0 (2012- present), she has published on animation, television genre and fan fiction, including Historical Dictionary of Animation and Cartoons (2009). She was President of the Society for Animation Studies from 2015-2019.