Wait—There’s a “Madame Tutli-Putli” Making-Of?!

Ever wondered which Canadian films went global and stayed in people’s minds? The NFB is home to tons of films that have travelled the world, but one modern classic that still hits hard with new generations is 2008 Academy Award nominee Madame Tutli-Putli, by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski. And guess what? The award-winning duo just dropped a brand-new film, The Girl Who Cried Pearls (2025). On top of that, we recently dug up a behind-the-scenes gem about Madame Tutli-Putli from our vaults!

Madame Tutli-Putli , Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

Yes, seriously—we tracked down a four-part making-off interview where the directing duo basically deliver a masterclass on how they pulled it off.

What’s wild about Madame Tutli-Putli is that it skips the usual “hero goes on a journey and comes out changed” formula. The protagonist barely changes at all—and that’s probably the duo’s boldest move. As the film unfolds, the character steadily reveals her isolation, fears and dreams—all while barely leaving the same train seat. We start the film by simply looking at her, and by the end of the film, we’re looking into her. The change? It’s in the audience’s perception of the character, not in the character itself!

In the constellation of stop-motion cinema, few films have carved out a space as instantly recognizable—and as deeply unsettling—as Madame Tutli-Putli. Beyond the integration of real human eyes composited onto puppet faces (giving the characters a gaze that feels uncomfortably alive), every single frame shows off the eerie fingerprint of the handmade. Those almost-too-real eyes, the fabric that wrinkles like actual skin, the objects that tremble with fragile tactility—all of it constitutes a technical marvel. Together, these details build a cinematic language that refuses to play by traditional animation rules. Oh, and the soundtrack? Absolutely mind-blowing. You must see the film—and hear it!

In a world dominated by global, hyper-commercial animation—where everything starts to look, sound and feel the same—the National Film Board of Canada is a total outlier. Its unique setup gives daring new filmmakers the freedom to create radically different animated works, like the unforgettable Madame Tutli-Putli. Without the NFB, and its producers, films this bold probably wouldn’t even exist.

Cool Facts

Madame Tutli-Putli has been absolutely everywhere—selected and awarded at over 100 festivals around the world, including the big three of animation: Annecy, Zagreb and Ottawa. It even picked up two awards at Cannes (the Canal+ Grand Prize and the Petit Rail d’Or)… and, of course, snagged an Oscar nomination in 2008. Total legend status!

Why This Matters for You

Lavis and Szczerbowski prove you don’t need a Marvel-sized budget to make stories that stick. Their claustrophobic, shadow-filled stop-motion masterpiece has been watched by millions on our platforms. So stop whatever you’re doing, grab your friends and family, and check it out. Madame Tutli-Putli is a uniquely macabre yet sympathetic short film that will keep you riveted you from start to finish. Best of all? It’s a homegrown, true Canadian classic!

Challenge

Pick one of the above recently unearthed parts of the making-of interview and tell us what you loved the most, or simply share your thoughts (Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn). Boom—you’re supporting local art without leaving your couch.

Craving more? Visit NFB.ca. (No login. No ads. Just art.)