A rarity these days, every frame was hand painted on cels and shot on traditional film stock. Boyle is proud to point out that Belle was in production for a total of fifteen years, though it was squeezed in between his 'paid' work.
Boyle tells me that "the film was always a kind of holiday for us, done purely for the love of it. It felt like an antidote to the more hi-tech work we produce commercially."
After seeing the trailer a couple of weeks ago on Cartoon Brew, I asked the producers if there was a way I could see Belle early and they were kind enough to trust me with a DVD screener.
The story is simple enough: boyfriendless woman makes a date with guy she met—sans photo—online. Man is an unkempt, drunken idiot. He doesn't arrive on time, of course, and yet she still finds love.
To me, the real star of the short is its setting, London. The Tube stations, crowded DLR train, and drab buildings outside the city centre are all beautifully done and remarkably authentic.
This likely won't be the last time you hear about The Last Belle. The film is looking for distribution and will be entered into festivals worldwide this year. Announcements will be posted on the short's official blog.
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3 comments:
Wow! Somebody call Dick Williams, tell him the frontlines of the 2D revolution have a few good soldiers out there
I don't know why you would want to colour with cell paint any more. Painting digital cells are so much easier. It feels like the film makers wanted to make it the traditional way, because they could. I have no comments on the film itself though, it might be good.
It would be nice to have a list of cities and theaters where we can view this short. Please be sure to update or have TheLastBelle blog update with a list of theaters where it will be showing.
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