Hen Hop
Encyclopedia
Hen Hop is a 1942 drawn-on-film animation short by Norman McLaren
, in which a hen
gradually breaks apart into an abstract movement of lines, as it dances to a barn dance
. One of a number of drawn-on-film animated works created by McLaren, Hen Hop was animated by inking and scraping film stock
, with colour added optically afterwards.
To make Hen Hop, McLaren spent days in a chicken coop
to capture what he called "the spirit of henliness." The film was produced by the National Film Board of Canada
.
was reported to have exclaimed “at last something new” upon viewing this film. Dutch animator Gerrit van Dijk
, reproduces part of the film as well quotes from McLaren about making Hen Hop his 1997 work, I Move, So I Am.
Norman McLaren
Norman McLaren, CC, CQ was a Scottish-born Canadian animator and film director known for his work for the National Film Board of Canada...
, in which a hen
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
gradually breaks apart into an abstract movement of lines, as it dances to a barn dance
Barn dance
A barn dance is any kind of dance held in a barn, but usually involves traditional or folk music with traditional dancing. It is a type of dance, originating in America and popular in Britain in the late 19th century and early 20th, derived from Schottische...
. One of a number of drawn-on-film animated works created by McLaren, Hen Hop was animated by inking and scraping film stock
Film stock
Film stock is photographic film on which filmmaking of motion pictures are shot and reproduced. The equivalent in television production is video tape.-1889–1899:...
, with colour added optically afterwards.
To make Hen Hop, McLaren spent days in a chicken coop
Chicken coop
A chicken coop is a building where female chickens are kept. Inside there are often nest boxes for egg laying and perches on which the birds can sleep, although coops for meat birds seldom have either of these features....
to capture what he called "the spirit of henliness." The film was produced by the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
.
Reception
Pablo PicassoPablo Picasso
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
was reported to have exclaimed “at last something new” upon viewing this film. Dutch animator Gerrit van Dijk
Gerrit van Dijk
Gerrit van Dijk is a Dutch animator, film maker, and painter.-Biography:Gerrit van Dijk was born in a pious Catholic family in the village of Uden. He studied as a fifteen-year-old boy at the academy in Tilburg. He was not very satisfied about the school. "You only learn technique. The creativity...
, reproduces part of the film as well quotes from McLaren about making Hen Hop his 1997 work, I Move, So I Am.
External links
- Watch Hen Hop at NFB.ca (Requires Adobe FlashAdobe FlashAdobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
)