René Jodoin
Encyclopedia
René Jodoin is an animation
director and producer who founded the French-language animation studio of the National Film Board of Canada
.
to join the NFB in 1943. He worked in the NFB's original animation unit, then left the NFB in 1947. He returned to the Film Board in 1954, working in a variety of capacities, including as head of an NFB animation program producing films for the Department of National Defence
and as head of NFB's Science Film Program.
and Monsieur Pointu
, by André Leduc and Bernard Longpré, as well as Balablok
by Břetislav Pojar
, winner of the Grand Prix du Festival for Short Film
at the Cannes Film Festival
.
as performed by Glenn Gould
. He was also sole director on a cycle of geometrical animated shorts: Dance Squared, Notes on a Triangle, Rectangle & Rectangles and A Matter of Form.
, given to individuals for an outstanding career in Québec cinema.
Animation
Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2-D or 3-D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement. The effect is an optical illusion of motion due to the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be created and demonstrated in several ways...
director and producer who founded the French-language animation studio of 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...
.
Joining the NFB
Jodoin was invited by animation pioneer Norman McLarenNorman 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...
to join the NFB in 1943. He worked in the NFB's original animation unit, then left the NFB in 1947. He returned to the Film Board in 1954, working in a variety of capacities, including as head of an NFB animation program producing films for the Department of National Defence
Department of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
and as head of NFB's Science Film Program.
French animation studio founder
In 1966, he founded the French Animation Studio. He produced two Academy Award-nominated animated shorts during his tenure: Hunger, by Peter FoldesPeter Foldes
Peter Foldes, born in 1924 in Budapest, Hungary and died March 29, 1977 in Paris, was a director and animator of British nationality.-Biography:...
and Monsieur Pointu
Monsieur Pointu (film)
Monsieur Pointu is a 1975 animated film about Quebec fiddler Monsieur Pointu, the stage name for Paul Cormier. In this 12-and-a-half-minute film, Pointu and his violin break into pieces that take on a life of their own, dancing to the artist's music. The film was directed by Bernard Longpré and...
, by André Leduc and Bernard Longpré, as well as Balablok
Balablok
Balablok is a 1972 animated short written and directed by Břetislav Pojar exploring the human propensity for resorting to violence over reason. Produced by René Jodoin for the National Film Board of Canada, the 7 min 27 sec film received the 1973 Grand Prix du Festival for Short Film at the Cannes...
by Břetislav Pojar
Bretislav Pojar
Břetislav Pojar is a puppeteer, animator and director of short and feature films.Born in Sušice, Czechoslovakia, Pojar started his career in the late 1940s with his work on The Story of the Bass Cello based on the story by Anton Chekhov and directed by master Czech puppet animator Jiří Trnka...
, winner of the Grand Prix du Festival for Short Film
Short Film Palme d'Or
The Short Film Palme d'Or is the highest prize given to a short film at the Cannes Film Festival. It is chosen by the same jury of the Cinéfondation....
at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
Directorial credits
Jodoin's directorial credits include two short films with McLaren: Alouette and Spheres, an abstract film set to the music of BachBạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
as performed by Glenn Gould
Glenn Gould
Glenn Herbert Gould was a Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century. He was particularly renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach...
. He was also sole director on a cycle of geometrical animated shorts: Dance Squared, Notes on a Triangle, Rectangle & Rectangles and A Matter of Form.
Post-NFB
Jodoin resigned as head of the French Animation Studio in 1977 and left the NFB in 1985. In 2001, he was awarded the Prix Albert-TessierPrix Albert-Tessier
The Prix Albert-Tessier is an award by the Government of Quebec that is part of the Prix du Québec, given to individuals for an outstanding career in Québec cinema. It is awarded to scriptwriting, acting, composing music, directing, producing and cinematographic techniques. It is named in honour of...
, given to individuals for an outstanding career in Québec cinema.