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NFB Blog

Theodore Ushev and the Ottawa International Animation Festival Poster

ottawa09

Last week, Amid at Cartoon Brew wrote about a little controversy that’s taking place over the poster for this year’s Ottawa International Animation Festival.

I’m not going to rehash the argument in this space, because in my opinion, Amid did a great job in delineating the key issues. But basically, animator Theodore Ushev designed a poster that was not well received by some people, namely an instructor at Sheridan College, Pete Emslie.

Of course, people are free to like the poster or hate it vehemently. That’s the great thing about art – we can all have our opinion. My issue with this back-and-forth is that the main detractor is a teacher who influences minds on a daily basis. With influence comes responsibility, as in, the responsibility to keep an open mind. And to encourage open-mindedness in future generations.

So take another look at the poster, and then take a look at this film. They both came from the same creative mind. But for those who still cannot accept the poster as art, or feel that it’s not appropriate for an animation festival, Elliot Cowan was gracious enough to make a few “modifications” to make it more palatable to mainstream audiences.

animations | art | Festivals | posters

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  1. Good God, what is Emslie’s problem? This is a great poster: lively, arresting and bursting with visual interest. If I ran into it walking down the street it would stop me in my tracks. That is the hallmark of good poster design. Well done, Mr. Ushev. Nolo Bastardo Carborundum.

    — stellersjay,

  3. I’m a disinterested observer (I have no special investment in animation), but what I see here is a classic high/low debate. Broadly speaking, critics of the poster are invested in animation as a popular medium, while its supporters see animation as an art form and want it recognized as such by others in the fine arts. The poster works in the interests of the latter and against those of the former. I have always found animation (and other similar marginal forms) interesting because they are able to cross these cultural boundaries. I find it remarkable and somewhat sad that people on both sides are so eager to police them (see comment #1 for an example).

    — JC,

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