This month we asked contributors to delve into Screenonline's extensive Animation collection.
The majority of young people will be familiar with a range of different animated styles, from computer game type graphics to popular feature films such as Aladdin (US, 1992), Toy Story (US, 1995), Chicken Run (US/UK, 2000) and Shrek (US, 2001).
But animated films aren't just for kids and have a lot more to offer than is often supposed. The films in this collection, as well as Women's Animation deal with complex issues, use innovative techniques and showcase the diversity and breadth of this vibrant form.
Unsurprisingly, the powerful animation A is for Autism (1991) was a popular choice with teachers. The film, which mixes live-action sequences with animation and voice-overs, was a collaboration between the filmmaker and a group of autistic adults and children. It is visually dense and the complex fusion of sound and image allows the audience a rare glimpse into the private and personal worlds of those living with autism. Here, two English teachers have used the film. In one lesson students are asked to consider whether film might be a more effective medium than written text for expressing an 'autobiography of autism.' In the other, the film acts as a useful counterpoint to the way in which Mark Haddon creates the world of the 15 year old autistic boy, Christopher Boone in 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time'.
Manipulation (1991) is the subject of another English lesson. This lively short sees an animated character trying to escape the control of his creator, who remains off-screen but for his white-gloved hands. It's a great film to get students thinking about authorial control and here they are encouraged to reflect on the role of authors and directors in creating characters and driving narrative.
The Animation Collection was also a rich resource when it came to Primary education. An early example of time-lapse photography, Birth of a Flower (1910) offers a way into looking at seed germination and/or photosynthesis. The experimental animation, Tusalava (1929) can be used to investigate the relationship between music and images and in this lesson children are encouraged to respond to a piece of music in pictures. The subject of Alternative Fringe is the much dreaded 'bad haircut' and this provides the starting point for a lesson on writing letters of both complaint and apology!
Alternative Fringe also appears in this collection as a starter for a Citizenship lesson focused around resolving conflict, while the dark and sinister puppet-animation The Sandman is used to inspire a piece of creative writing in English.
Finally, the lyrical Feet of Song is featured twice; once as a starter for an Art lesson looking at movement and form and once as the basis for a lesson in which students create their own short stop frame animation.
Please note that Cowboys (1991) is unsuitable for use in the classroom as it contains very adult material.
| 
