Today when a friend of mine posted one of Michael Dudok de Wit’s clip on her Facebook wall, I decided to write some words about him.
Michael Dudok de Wit was born 1953 in Holland. He started his artistic career after graduating from West Surrey College of Art in England, first in Barcelona and later on in London. He directs and animates award-winning commercials for television and cinema. Michael also is a writer and book illustrator and a teacher of animation at art colleges in England and abroad.
Michael Dudok de Wit’s works are simple. A simplicity almost bordered to the edges of purity. This evident simplicity is not only present in his illustrative work, but also in technique and story. In addition he is extremely conscious when choosing music in his works. A combination which creates a strong spiritual quality. His attention to using light and shadows in his illustrations is unique.
The Monk and the Fish (1994)
The story is about a monk who goes fishing. A playful fish eludes the monk uses everything to catch the fish. The film was nominated for Oscar, BAFTA film award belong others. It was made using a cel animation technique which nowadays is often assisted by computers. The illustrations were all made in the traditional way using brush, Indian ink and watercolor. The music score, based on La Follia by Corelli was created by Serge Besset.
Father and Daughter (2000)
A father bids farewell to his young daughter and leaves. As the daughter grows up, becomes a young woman, creates her own family and becomes old, her longing for father’s return never ceases. The wide Dutch landscape and its seasons, together with the life of the daughter and her never ending longing for the father creates a simple but sad story. A story which ends in a spiritual journey to the afterlife.
Father and Daughter won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, the Grand Prix at Annecy, and dozens of other major awards.
The Aroma of Tea (2006)
The story of The Aroma of Tea is very simple. A small rounded shape starts its journey by a separation. The shape travels its long way through narrow, crooked roads to an ending in the union. A purposeful and rhythmical union with a large sphere of white light. Dudok de Wit uses tea and a brush to create this film. Some of the elements in the illustrations look like oriental calligraphy where smooth brush movements create a hidden message.
In an interview in The Master of Cinemas, the interviewer asks if the young animators will loose the skills of traditional animation as the use of computer animation is increasing. Michael Dudok de Wit replies:
“No, I don’t think so. There will always be those who pick up a pencil or a brush, I’m sure and there will always be an audience because it’s too beautiful and too rich to forget. I draw a parallel with music, where electronic and digital instruments and tools have created endless possibilities, yet acoustic instruments have not lost their popularity. And a blend between the two can also be very beautiful. It’s just the same with animation. Hand drawn animation will remain loved and will continue to evolve, while computer animation will generate fantastic new stuff.”
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