Love on the Wing

Love on the Wing

A line-drawing love story in a surreal land, made to advertise Empire Air Mail but withheld due to "Freudian" symbolism.

By skipping the traditional trace and paint process of cel animation and drawing tiny characters directly onto a 35mm film strip, Glasgow-born animator Norman McLaren was able to unleash his unconscious onto the screen. Such freedom is visible in the film's remarkable energy, but ultimately displeased its sponsor, the Postmaster General, who objected to what he perceived as "Freudian" imagery.

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Animated Classics

Showcasing the best and brightest of British animation

12 videos in this collection

What does it mean to be British? You might not have a much clearer idea after watching this animated portrait, but you will certainly be entertained

The United Kingdom

  • 1994
If anyone can bring Henri Toulouse-Lautrec’s sketchbooks to life, Geoff Dunbar can-can

Lautrec

  • 1974
This animated allegory with a message of mediation was so successful it was adopted by the United Nations

A Short Tall Story

  • 1970
Tennis match escalates into apocalypse

Players

  • 1982

Music Man

  • 1938
Part experimental cinema, part advert for the parcel post service, always joyful.

A Colour Box

  • 1935

The Victor

  • 1985

Carmen

  • 1936
A line-drawing love story in a surreal land, made to advertise Empire Air Mail but withheld due to "Freudian" symbolism.

Love on the Wing

  • 1939

Fox Hunt

  • 1936

The Ladder

  • 1967

Ubu

  • 1978
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