![]() ![]() I really appreciated the film’s depiction of the difficulty of continued success, even (or especially) in the aftermath of a megahit. But at its heart, Claydream is a tragic and philosophical film about the incompatibility of art and commerce and the doomed battle fought by dreamers to realise their vision. ![]() Not a minute goes by in which the screen isn’t filled with his glorious Claymation creations, which are a source of real joy. Though I would’ve doubtless eaten up a documentary that went through all Vinton’s films chronologically while talking heads enthused about their genius, Claydream presents a much more satisfying overview of his career while also digging deeper into the nature of his emotional complexities, as well as the numerous unpleasant legal and personal battles in which he found himself embroiled.įans of Vinton’s films will not be disappointed by the visuals of Claydream. One of Claydream’s most admirable qualities is its appreciation of this niche appeal and what it says about Vinton himself. The result is a mesmerising film that takes a good deal of work on the audience’s part and benefits greatly from a pre-existing knowledge of Twain, something it seems to assume in its unclear target audience. The Adventures of Mark Twain, for instance, is designed to give an impressionistic sense of Twain and his work through references to his stories that refuse to overexplain themselves. Vinton’s work is idiosyncratic and obscure, lacking the easy commercial appeal of a Disney or Aardman. While it’s easy for an animation obsessive such as myself to wonder at people’s inability to appreciate Vinton’s work, if I take a step back for a second it is even easier to see why he remains a cult figure. His Claymation Christmas Celebration is a festive staple in my house, while his 1985 feature film The Adventures of Mark Twain is so spellbinding that it inspired me to read the complete novels of Twain in order to better understand it. ![]() He was nominated for five Oscars, winning one for his debut Closed Mondays, co-directed with Bob Gardiner. Most people probably know him for The California Raisins, a true 80s phenomenon which is less remembered with each elapsing year, or perhaps Michael Jackson’s Speed Demon video, but there are greater treasures in Vinton’s filmography. Vinton’s medium was Claymation, a term trademarked by Vinton himself which has become a standard descriptor for all clay animation. Will Vinton is certainly among these overlooked geniuses and the painstaking detail and beauty of his work seems completely incongruous with his relative obscurity. As a longtime animation enthusiast, it sometimes frustrates me just how many geniuses of the medium have been overlooked in favour of repeatedly eulogising the same small group of admittedly deserving mainstays. The fact that a documentary like Claydream exists at all is a cause for celebration. ![]()
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