| Genre | |
|---|---|
The nameless Rabbit from the Film. |
|
| Directed by | Don Hertzfeldt |
| Produced by | Don Hertzfeldt |
| Written by | Don Hertzfeldt |
| Music by | Dave LaDelfa |
| Cinematography | Cary Walker |
| Editing by | Kevyn Eiselt |
| Release date(s) | 1996 |
| Running time | 4:58 |
Genre is a 1996 Live-action/animated short film by animator Don Hertzfeldt, his second student film, preceded by Ah, L'Amour (1995).
The 16mm short combines traditional animation, pixilation, and stop-motion animation to present a cartoon rabbit careening through a variety of rapidly changing film genres as his animator struggles to come up with a good idea.
The short is Hertzfeldt's least favorite of his work [1], but it nevertheless was an animation festival hit that went on to receive 17 awards.
In 1997, it was shown on an episode of MTV's Cartoon Sushi.
Contents |
In 2005, the original 16mm negative was digitally restored and remastered for the first time, for release on the extensive "Bitter Films Volume 1" DVD compilation of Hertzfeldt's 1995-2005 films. Special features included for Genre are Hertzfeldt's original production sketches, notes, and deleted ideas from the film; as well as a very rare 1993 video short called "Escape is Still Impossible": a precursor to Genre that Don created while still in high school. The DVD is available exclusively at the Bitter Films website, http://www.bitterfilms.com
The plot centers around a hand drawn rabbit, being told what to do by the animator. (similar to Duck Amuck.) The rabbit's activities depend on what genre appears on the screen. (Example, for "horror movie", the rabbit is stabbed repeatedly by a second rabbit.) Occasionally, the animators hand will appear on the screen (Example, at the start, the rabbit is trying to run away from the movie, only to be pulled back by the animators hand.)
The film was very well received. It was praised by critics such as Felix Hude of the Melbourne Film Festival, and won 17 awards.