Anizen (1975)

Handling

Based on an Alan Watts Zen-Buddhist parable about the creation of the universe and the nature of God -- a platform for surrealist animation and transformation of abstract, non-representational forms. Live-action, rotoscoped, and cutout characters frame the abstract animation of the main body of the film as a story told to a grandson -- a creation story that eventually gets out of control. Ink and paint on cels, drawing on paper, rotoscoping, cameraless, drawing under the camera, and cutout animation. Made while a full-time science student at the University of British Columbia during an elective arts course in animation with Al Sens, 1975. First prize (post-secondary) & "Best of Show" - 7th Annual British Columbia Student Film Festival, 1975 [prior to going to film school]. Given name was Stephen Arthur Bowlsby, legally changed to Stephen Arthur in 1994.