Norman McLaren Movies

  • 1951
    Pen Point Percussion

    Pen Point Percussion

    Pen Point Percussion

    6.11951HD

    A documentary showing Norman McLaren working on the hand-drawn sound process he uses for his short film, Loops.

    Pen Point Percussion
  • 1943
    Snakes

    Snakes

    Snakes

    01943HD

    Made during WWII

    Snakes
  • 1936
    McLaren Homemovie

    McLaren Homemovie

    McLaren Homemovie

    01936HD

    Amateur footage, probably filmed by Norman McLaren, of a group of his friends on a visit to his parents' home in Stirling.

    McLaren Homemovie
  • 1952
    A Phantasy

    A Phantasy

    A Phantasy

    6.21952HD

    An animated film drawn entirely in pastels. Various fantastical plant-like things "grow" from the ground, eventually launching five spheres. The...

    A Phantasy
  • 2006
    Blurr Test

    Blurr Test

    Blurr Test

    02006HD

    Compilation of McLaren's Blurr technique.

    Blurr Test
  • 2006
    The Seasons

    The Seasons

    The Seasons

    02006HD

    In 1966, McLaren began a metamorphic film in which he explored the light and colour of Canada in this unfinished film.

    The Seasons
  • 2006
    Little Negro

    Little Negro

    Little Negro

    02006HD

    Unfinished animated film, 1940s. Silent film.

    Little Negro
  • 1959
    Serenal

    Serenal

    Serenal

    5.81959HD

    A gay fantasia of patterned sound in which Norman McLaren salutes the West Indies, painting the spirit of fiesta on film to the lively beat of an...

    Serenal
  • 2006
    Chaplin Test

    Chaplin Test

    Chaplin Test

    02006HD

    An attempt to animate an abstract Charlie Chaplin-esque figure.

    Chaplin Test
  • 1946
    Hoppity Pop

    Hoppity Pop

    Hoppity Pop

    4.11946HD

    An animated film in which colored shapes dance to calliope music. The visuals were drawn by Norman McLaren directly upon the film with pen and ink....

    Hoppity Pop
  • 1939
    Scherzo

    Scherzo

    Scherzo

    6.41939HD

    Norman McLaren made Scherzo early after his arrival in North America in 1939, but the film was subsequently lost. In 1984 the original materials were...

    Scherzo
  • 1976
    Animated Motion: Part 1

    Animated Motion: Part 1

    Animated Motion: Part 1

    5.51976HD

    The first part of this series by Norman McLaren deals only with tempo. It starts by showing the disc travelling in one move (1/24 of a second) from A...

    Animated Motion: Part 1
  • 2006
    The Art of Motion

    The Art of Motion

    The Art of Motion

    02006HD

    The fourth thematic mini documentary about revolutionary filmmaker Norman McLaren.

    The Art of Motion
  • 1977
    Animated Motion: Part 2

    Animated Motion: Part 2

    Animated Motion: Part 2

    5.81977HD

    In this short animation film, Norman McLaren presents the first 3 of the 5 categories of motion: constant, accelerated and decelerated. Various types...

    Animated Motion: Part 2
  • 1941
    Boogie-Doodle

    Boogie-Doodle

    Boogie-Doodle

    6.11941HD

    An animation film, made without the use of a camera, in which "boogie" played by Albert Ammons and "doodle" drawn by Norman McLaren combine to make a...

    Boogie-Doodle
  • 1946
    A Little Phantasy on a 19th-century Painting

    A Little Phantasy on a 19th-century Painting

    A Little Phantasy on a 19th-century Painting

    6.91946HD

    Taking "Isle of the Dead," a work by the Swiss symbolist painter Arnold Böcklin as his starting point, Norman McLaren creates a deeply...

    A Little Phantasy on a 19th-century Painting
  • 1977
    Animated Motion: Part 3

    Animated Motion: Part 3

    Animated Motion: Part 3

    5.51977HD

    The third in a series of five colour films that offer an introduction to the basic techniques of film animation. McLaren explains and demonstrates...

    Animated Motion: Part 3
  • 1978
    Animated Motion: Part 5

    Animated Motion: Part 5

    Animated Motion: Part 5

    61978HD

    In this fifth part, Norman McLaren deals not with motion (if motion is defined as a change of location in two- or three-dimensional space) but with...

    Animated Motion: Part 5
  • 1944
    Keep Your Mouth Shut

    Keep Your Mouth Shut

    Keep Your Mouth Shut

    6.51944HD

    This animated short from Norman McLaren features a human skull cautioning Canadians to “keep their mouths shut” in an effort to end...

    Keep Your Mouth Shut
  • 1957
    A Chairy Tale

    A Chairy Tale

    A Chairy Tale

    6.81957HD

    An ordinary-looking chair refuses to be sat upon.

    A Chairy Tale