A Note from Above

1967
Sound
2m

Thou shalt watch this film

Thou shalt use your own reason and common sense, and not blindly follow the instruction of others' is not a lost commandment. But if it were, it would be far more succinctly stated by this short animation. It is one of the best of the many films of Derek Phillips, an amateur filmmaker who produced a steady stream of over forty animated shorts in a decade as an outlet to his unique blend of caustic wit, philosophical enquiry and pessimistic atheism.

Comic satirical tale told through animation - in a stained glass scene the laws of God are handed down to his followers in a series of notes and are followed devoutly. A mistake has serious consequences.

DIY Animation

Amateur animation auteurs bring their homegrown creations to life

The requirements for making an animated film are pretty low. With a camera that shoots in single frames and an idea in your back pocket, you're well on your way. This collection showcases an assortment of dining table Disneys, who combine homebrewed talent with the all-important dedication and patience required to bring a story to life one frame at a time. Not that this was necessarily a solitary pursuit. From the 1950s onwards networks of amateur animators like The Grasshopper Group collaborated on filmmaking and distribution, and animated shorts were often a highlight of the amateur filmmaking scene.