Norman McLaren Movie Trailers

Seven Surprizes Trailer (1963)

01 January 1963

A compilation of seven shorts made for the National Film Board of Canada. Features the NFBC shorts, "Nahanni," "Le Merle," "A Chairy Tale," "The Cars in Your Life," "Corral," "Wrestling," and "Neighbors.

Lines: Vertical Trailer (1960)

01 January 1960

An experiment in pure design by film artists Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart. Lines, ruled directly on film, move with precision and grace against a background of changing colors, in response to music specially composed for the films.

Tour en l'air Trailer (1973)

01 January 1973

For all who enjoy ballet, this English-language film presents an insight into the dance that only dancers ordinarily see.

A Job in a Million Trailer (1937)

23 January 1937

A Cockney lad trains to be a messenger boy.

Up There in the Mountains Trailer (1946)

01 January 1946

In Là-haut sur ces montagnes, Mclaren used for the first time a chain-of-mixes (chiaroscuro) on a pastel-drawn landscape.

Now Is the Time Trailer (1951)

03 May 1951

Early abstract 3D film by animation master Norman McLaren.

Around Is Around Trailer (1951)

01 January 1951

Early abstract 3D film by animation master Norman McLaren and collaborator Evelyn Lambart.

A Phantasy Trailer (1952)

01 January 1952

An animated film drawn entirely in pastels. Various fantastical plant-like things "grow" from the ground, eventually launching five spheres.

Keep Your Mouth Shut Trailer (1944)

01 January 1944

This animated short from Norman McLaren features a human skull cautioning Canadians to “keep their mouths shut” in an effort to end gossiping during World War II.

Love on the Wing Trailer (1939)

01 January 1939

Animation featuring dancing black and white shadows.

Serenal Trailer (1959)

01 January 1959

A gay fantasia of patterned sound in which Norman McLaren salutes the West Indies, painting the spirit of fiesta on film to the lively beat of an island tune by Trinidad's Grand Curacaya Orchestra.

Pinscreen Trailer (1973)

12 May 1973

Pinscreen animation makes use of a screen filled with movable pins, which can be moved in or out by pressing an object onto the screen.

Alouette Trailer (1944)

01 January 1944

This animated short co-animated by René Jodoin and Norman McLaren was produced for inclusion in the Let's All Sing Together sing-along series.

A Rainy Day Trailer (1944)

01 January 1944

An animated victory bond message with the advice, "Don't cash in your bonds."

Birdlings Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

This 1967 footage shows McLaren at a computer with Evelyn Lambart, Rene Pardo and two other technicians, followed by the animation test some call Birdlings.

Little Negro Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

Unfinished animated film, 1940s. Silent film.

NBC Valentine Greeting Trailer (1940)

13 February 1940

A play on the theme of hearts. Two hearts cavort, change shape, shoot arrows at one another, give birth, and finally become one heart bearing the message "Will you be our Valentine?

McLaren and Space Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

The second thematic mini documentary about revolutionary filmmaker Norman McLaren.

The Corridor Trailer (1950)

31 December 1950

This uncompleted film uses a technique invented by McLaren in the 1930s; the travelling zoom. McLaren's intention was to make the corridor gradually disappear so that the viewer's initial imprisonment would give way to the freedom of infinite space.

Pen Drawings Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

Mixes with still images, 1940s. A large collection of McLaren's surrealist illustrations. Silent film.

Norman McLaren and Claude Jutra Safer Sex Short Trailer (1985)

01 January 1985

So is this what the kids of today are into? Well, as long as it’s safe.

The Art of Motion Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

The fourth thematic mini documentary about revolutionary filmmaker Norman McLaren.

The Seasons Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

In 1966, McLaren began a metamorphic film in which he explored the light and colour of Canada in this unfinished film.

7 Till 5: A Pattern of the Day's Doings Trailer (1933)

18 January 1933

Experimental film showing a day's activities at the Glasgow College of Art.

Beginnings Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

The first thematic mini documentary about revolutionary filmmaker Norman McLaren.

Doors Trailer (1959)

31 December 1959

An unfinished animated short from the late 1950s.

Defence of Madrid Trailer (1936)

01 December 1936

This cinematic travelogue consists of three parts. In the first part, texts and small maps are our guides through Madrid in 1936.

Surrealistic Hand Drawing Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

Done during war years. Silent film.

Blurr Test Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

Compilation of McLaren's Blurr technique.

Out-of-Focus Cloudscape Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

An idea for backgrounds never used, late 1940s. Silent film.

Six and Seven-Eighths Trailer (2003)

14 January 2003

Grant Munro dances to New Orleans jazz music.

Evelyn Lambart Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

The fifth thematic mini documentary about revolutionary filmmaker Norman McLaren; this time with a focus on his collaborator Evelyn Lambart.

Painting with Light Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

The third thematic mini documentary about revolutionary filmmaker Norman McLaren.

Barrel Zoom Trailer (1943)

09 January 1943

Images supered on a revolving barrel.

McLaren at Play Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

A compilation of various tests, techniques and experiments compiled from the 1940s - 1950s. Silent film.

On the Farm Trailer (2003)

14 January 2003

Stop-motion, pixillation and other trick photography methods are used to depict situations on a farm.

The Hypnosis Film Trailer (2006)

01 January 2006

1960s. A test using circles. Silent film.

Polychrome Fantasy Trailer (1935)

01 January 1935

In this early film Norman McLaren shot crystal formations through a low-power microscope, using polarized light with the lower part of the picture masked off.

Mony a Pickle Trailer (1938)

01 January 1938

A brisk GPO Film Unit promo for the Post Office Savings Bank: pub talk and daydream vignettes tout penny-by-penny thrift, peaking in a playful Norman McLaren passage where household furniture springs to life—selling the idea that “many a little makes a lot.

Animated Motion: Part 2 Trailer (1977)

01 January 1977

In this short animation film, Norman McLaren presents the first 3 of the 5 categories of motion: constant, accelerated and decelerated.

Cinéastes de notre temps : Norman McLaren Trailer (1972)

26 July 1972

Two Bagatelles Trailer (1953)

01 January 1953

Norman McLaren instructs Grant Munro on the movements he is to make. The film technique for Two Bagatelles is pixillation, where the actor is animated frame by frame, as in the film Neighbours/Voisins.

Mail Early Trailer (1941)

01 November 1941

This publicity clip for Canada Post is Norman McLaren's first film for the NFB. For this animated short, McLaren drew symbols by pen onto clear 35 mm stock, which was then superimposed on a photographed painted background.

Hoppity Pop Trailer (1946)

01 January 1946

An animated film in which colored shapes dance to calliope music. The visuals were drawn by Norman McLaren directly upon the film with pen and ink.

Animated Motion: Part 5 Trailer (1978)

01 January 1978

In this fifth part, Norman McLaren deals not with motion (if motion is defined as a change of location in two- or three-dimensional space) but with change--change in the amount and color of light within an otherwise static screen.

Book Bargain Trailer (1937)

19 January 1937

Shows the production of the London telephone directory.

Animated Motion: Part 1 Trailer (1976)

01 January 1976

The first part of this series by Norman McLaren deals only with tempo. It starts by showing the disc travelling in one move (1/24 of a second) from A to B, and progressively demonstrates slower and slower tempos.

Camera Makes Whoopee Trailer (1935)

19 January 1935

Montage and animation in two Acts: the preparation for the Glasgow Arts School Ball; and the ball itself.