The Big Snit
Encyclopedia
The Big Snit is a 10-minute short-subject animated cartoon
written and directed by Richard Condie
and produced by the National Film Board of Canada
. It was released in 1985.
. Their cat has just chewed through the power cable for their television, so that they don't notice that a nuclear war
has begun.
The husband complains about his wife's habit of shaking her eyes, while she points out he has the bad habit of sawing the furniture from watching the TV show "Sawing for Teens" (the show is interrupted so that the warning can be given). They barely notice that there is panic in the streets.
In the end, they reconcile after the husband plays their love song on a concertina, a smaller version of the accordion. Afterwards, just as they start to open the door, they are vaporized by a nuclear bomb and instantly arrive in heaven
. Still unaware of what has happened, they comment on what a beautiful day it is and return to finish their Scrabble game.
, the Special Jury Award for Humour at the Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films
, the Golden Space Needle for Best Short at the Seattle International Film Festival
, Best Animated Film at the Tampere Film Festival
, the Silver Plaque for Animation at the Chicago International Film Festival
, the Hiroshima Prize at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival
, the FIPRESCI International Film Critics' Prize at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival
and a Genie Award for Best Animated Short
. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Animated Short Film
at the 58th Academy Awards
. In 1994 it was voted #25 of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time by members of the animation field. It was also included in the Animation Show of Shows
.
' first season
, "Bart the Genius
".
Cartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
written and directed by Richard Condie
Richard Condie
Richard Condie, RCA is a Canadian animator, film maker and musician living and working in Winnipeg, Manitoba.-Education and career:...
and 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...
. It was released in 1985.
Plot
It is the story of a married couple who get into an argument while playing ScrabbleScrabble
Scrabble is a word game in which two to four players score points by forming words from individual lettered tiles on a game board marked with a 15-by-15 grid. The words are formed across and down in crossword fashion and must appear in a standard dictionary. Official reference works provide a list...
. Their cat has just chewed through the power cable for their television, so that they don't notice that a nuclear war
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
has begun.
The husband complains about his wife's habit of shaking her eyes, while she points out he has the bad habit of sawing the furniture from watching the TV show "Sawing for Teens" (the show is interrupted so that the warning can be given). They barely notice that there is panic in the streets.
In the end, they reconcile after the husband plays their love song on a concertina, a smaller version of the accordion. Afterwards, just as they start to open the door, they are vaporized by a nuclear bomb and instantly arrive in heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
. Still unaware of what has happened, they comment on what a beautiful day it is and return to finish their Scrabble game.
Awards
The film received 17 awards including the Grand Prize at the Montreal World Film FestivalMontreal World Film Festival
The Montreal World Film Festival , founded in 1977, is one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF...
, the Special Jury Award for Humour at the Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films
Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films
Animafest Zagreb, also known as World Festival of Animated Film in Zagreb, is an annual festival dedicated to animated film held in Zagreb, Croatia. Initiated by the International Animated Film Association, the event was established in 1972 at the time when Croatia was part of SFR Yugoslavia)...
, the Golden Space Needle for Best Short at the Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
The Seattle International Film Festival , held annually in Seattle, Washington since 1976, is among the top film festivals in North America. Audiences have grown steadily; the 2006 festival had 160,000 attendees...
, Best Animated Film at the Tampere Film Festival
Tampere Film Festival
The Tampere Film Festival is a short film festival held every March in the Finnish town of Tampere. It is accredited by the film producers' society FIAPF, and together with the short film festivals in Oberhausen and Clermont-Ferrand, it is among the most important European short film festivals.The...
, the Silver Plaque for Animation at the Chicago International Film Festival
Chicago International Film Festival
The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America....
, the Hiroshima Prize at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival
Hiroshima International Animation Festival
The International Animation Festival Hiroshima is a biannual animation festival hosted in Hiroshima, Japan.The festival was found in 1985 by Association International du Film d'Animation or ASIFA as International Animation Festival for the World Peace...
, the FIPRESCI International Film Critics' Prize at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival
Annecy International Animated Film Festival
The Annecy International Animation Film Festival was created in 1960 and takes place at the beginning of June in the town of Annecy, France. Initially occurring every two years, the festival became annual in 1998...
and a Genie Award for Best Animated Short
Genie Award for Best Animated Short
The Genie Award for Best Animated Short is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian animated short film.-7th Genie Awards:* Michael Scott, Richard Condie, The Big Snit* Ishu Patel, Paradise/Paradis...
. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Animated Short Film
Academy Award for Animated Short Film
The Academy Award for Animated Short Film is an award which has been given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as part of the Academy Awards every year since the 5th Academy Awards, covering the year 1931-32, to the present....
at the 58th Academy Awards
58th Academy Awards
The 58th Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 1985, were held on March 24, 1986 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. They were hosted by Alan Alda, Jane Fonda and Robin Williams. The ceremony was watched by 38.93 million viewers, tying the 78th Academy Awards as...
. In 1994 it was voted #25 of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time by members of the animation field. It was also included in the Animation Show of Shows
Animation show of shows
The Animation Show of Shows is a traveling selection of the year's best animated short films, curated and presented by Acme Filmworks founder, Ron Diamond. It began in 1998 with the aim of showing the most original, funny, intelligent short animated films from all over the world and presenting them...
.
Cultural references
The Big Snit inspired a Scrabble scene in the second episode of The SimpsonsThe Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
The Simpsons (season 1)
The Simpsons first season originally aired between December 17, 1989 and May 13, 1990, beginning with the Christmas special "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". The show runners for the first production season were Matt Groening, James L...
, "Bart the Genius
Bart the Genius
"Bart the Genius" is the second episode of The Simpsons first season, which originally aired on the Fox network on January 14, 1990. It was the first episode written by Jon Vitti. It was also the first ever episode to use the signature title sequence, as well as the first regular episode...
".