Animal

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Animal
puppetanimation, 28 min, digi-beta.
director: Tatu Pohjavirta
producer: Camera Cagliostro, Jyrki Kaipainen

Synopsis

"Animal" is a story about a single parent father who is turning into a werewolf, his son who has mixed his body with a lamb in an accident, and a female doctor – the subject of the father’s desire.

About the film

“Animal” is a film about the complicated relationship between the modern human being and the nature. At the same time it tells about the relationship between father and child, as well as about the apparent difference between the human and the animal. Also one basic theme is the strangeness to own body and towards the environment.

Tatu Pohjavirta´s films are full of action but with philosophical background. With “Animal” the director continues his very personal style to tell stories. Humour and folkstoryhorror go hand in hand. The laughter sticks to one´s throat. “ Chaplinesque humour and surprises follow each other and interrupt the storyline abruply. But it is important that the action never has only one simple explanation in Tatus films.

Tatu´s characters have rough and very earthy outlooks. They look so strange that it is easy for the viewer to identify with them. Tatu used music genuinely in his “Kuvastin” to create atmospheres and to rhythm the film. This we can also wait in “The Beast”. Director has got two script grants from the Finnish Film Foundation for this film. “Animal” is made for the adult audience, but youth from 12 years will surely like this absurd and “brute” story about human relations.

About the director

Tatu Pohjavirta graduated from the Turku Arts Academy ( 1997 – 2001). He has made several animation films, both puppet- and drawn animation. Tatu´s films have been shown in many international festivals. Since 2002 he has been teaching animation. He is member of the European Film academy.

Tatu Pohjavirta´s animation ”Kuvastin” was awarded in Tampere Short Film Festival with the Prix UIP and was nominated for European Film academy price as the best short film. “Kuvastin” was also shown in Nordic Panorama.

Credits

director , writer Tatu Pohjavirta
cinematographer – lighting Anu Keränen
animation Mark Ståhle, Tatu Pohjavirta

set designer - props Kim Helminen
Jessica Koivistoinen
Petteri Lankinen
Tatu Pohjavirta
Aki Viikilä

puppets by Tatu Pohjavirta

costume designer Piipa Toivonen
colour adjustment Henri Pulla
dramaturg Tove Idström
sound design Salla Hämäläinen
foley artist Eero Koivunen
wolf Antti Laukkarinen
sound studio Jankker
music Alamaailman Vasarat
Jarno Sarkula
Erno Haukkala
Miikka Huttunen
Tuukka Helminen
Marko Manninen
Teemu Hänninen
mixing of music Jarno Sarkula
audio mixing Peter Nordström / Meguru Film Sound Oy
print Digital Film Finland Oy

Production financing

SES, Finnish Film Foundation, Petri Rossi, Miia Haavisto
AVEK, Center for the Promotion of audiovisual arts Ulla Simonen
In Co-operation with YLE / Sari Volanen

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Press foto

A work in progress: We are developing the puppet animation series “The Magic Reindeer” which is based on the shamanistic folktales of the Northern folks – mainly of the Scandinavian Sámi. Read more!