Search

» » The Unobtrusive Fantasy of Manny Quinn (2006)

Short summary

In the back room of the Mischerschmidt Playhouse resides a lonely tailor's dummy named Manny Quinn. After falling in love with the theatre's beautiful leading lady, Manny must find a way to confront the tyrannical Mister Mischerschmidt and obtain the glorious dream that has eluded him: freedom.

Everything was constructed at a 6:1 scale. The puppets were 12 inches tall and made out of aluminum wire, upholstery foam, cellophane, plumber's epoxy, liquid latex, silicone, brass tubing, and clay. The theatre set was approximately 225 square feet, complete with balcony seating and 15 rows of chairs. Hot glue and talcum powder were used to create cobwebs and dust, respectively.

The animation was captured frame-by-frame using a Bolex H16 Reflexive 16mm film camera loaned to the production by director Mark Osborne. It was the same camera he used to shoot "Greener," his first film.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: skriper
    Without a doubt the best short film I've ever seen. Entertainingly mysterious.

    At just around five minutes in length, Manny Quinn's fantasy is of course hardly in danger of losing your attention, but where short films often struggle with pace and coherence this stunning little gem is a sensational triumph. Gripping all the way from the first second to its majestic conclusion, it is both easy to get into and challenging to grasp, allowing a great many interpretations and extra treasures for those who gift themselves the pleasure of additional viewings. Equipped with an enthralling score, fantastic foley, and set work oozing with charm and effort, it's clear that a lot of love went into getting the maximum result out of the unique plot and breathtaking animation.

    This is stunning stop motion and, in general terms, a breath of fresh air that doesn't draw out its point in redundancy or tell you what to think or feel. Quite simply, in the enchanting theatre atmosphere, Manny Quinn comes in to tell his story and then moves out of the way again - his creator thereby succeeding where the general industry rarely even tries, and that in itself is a clever gesture of integrity worthy of respect.

    In short, The Unobtrusive Fantasy of Manny Quinn is a compelling experience that far exceeds its viewing time, as well as being a quiet but hopeful promise of a future of film driven by inspiration and passion.
  • All rights reserved © 2017-2024 hd.thomson-multimedia.com