Local filmmaker part of growing scene in “Brickfilms”
Canberran Nick Maniatis is one of a growing number of Australians utilising lego bricks and stop stop-motion animation to create animated films or “brickfilms” according to an article published in the Sydney Morning Herald late last month. Maniatis’ work includes an adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s novella, Heart of Darkness and a trailer for a non-existent Star Wars film, for which he won an award at the Brickfest 2002 Conference.
The article explains that brickfilm has become an increasingly popular form of animation, with thousands of mini-movies of the brickfilm genre now appearing on internet sites. Its simplicity is a large part of the attraction for these enthusiasts who can film at home with minimal equipment.
Consistent with this, the article reports that Maniatis’ studio and set are simple: a room in his house with an abundance of lego bricks and two desk lamps for lighting. Maniatis comments, “I love the stop-motion aspect, bringing inanimate objects to life. I loved Lego as a child. When they come alive (in a film) it’s like they appeared in my mind when I was a kid.”
Through his films, Maniatis likes to use Lego in ways not originally intended. “Lego allows me to explore darker themes. The Lego smiley face, it’s so ubiquitous, it’s perfectly happy. The juxtaposition of that face and a story like Heart of Darkness is something I love.”
While the stop-motion animation technique used in brickfilm is also used in the more widely recognised forms of claymotion and cut-out animation, Maniatis concedes that brickfilmmakers are not regarded highly by mainstream animators. “Some professional animators don’t think a lot of it. They don’t think it’s up to standard with other stop-motion animation. I beg to differ.” Maniatis comments about filming with Lego, “In some ways it’s similar to the way that computer games are still seen as things for kids, when a great proportion of players are adults. People see Lego and assume it’s for kids, but there are a lot of people who used to play with Lego, who are now adults, who are using the medium to do things that are powerful and amazing.”
Source: Alexa Moses, “Boys and their toys”, (Sydney Morning Herald) March 23, 2006
Click here for full article
The article explains that brickfilm has become an increasingly popular form of animation, with thousands of mini-movies of the brickfilm genre now appearing on internet sites. Its simplicity is a large part of the attraction for these enthusiasts who can film at home with minimal equipment.
Consistent with this, the article reports that Maniatis’ studio and set are simple: a room in his house with an abundance of lego bricks and two desk lamps for lighting. Maniatis comments, “I love the stop-motion aspect, bringing inanimate objects to life. I loved Lego as a child. When they come alive (in a film) it’s like they appeared in my mind when I was a kid.”
Through his films, Maniatis likes to use Lego in ways not originally intended. “Lego allows me to explore darker themes. The Lego smiley face, it’s so ubiquitous, it’s perfectly happy. The juxtaposition of that face and a story like Heart of Darkness is something I love.”
While the stop-motion animation technique used in brickfilm is also used in the more widely recognised forms of claymotion and cut-out animation, Maniatis concedes that brickfilmmakers are not regarded highly by mainstream animators. “Some professional animators don’t think a lot of it. They don’t think it’s up to standard with other stop-motion animation. I beg to differ.” Maniatis comments about filming with Lego, “In some ways it’s similar to the way that computer games are still seen as things for kids, when a great proportion of players are adults. People see Lego and assume it’s for kids, but there are a lot of people who used to play with Lego, who are now adults, who are using the medium to do things that are powerful and amazing.”
Source: Alexa Moses, “Boys and their toys”, (Sydney Morning Herald) March 23, 2006
Click here for full article
posted by ScreenACT at 12:01 PM
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