MANIPULATION is a very simple cartoon with the simplest of animations and a rather straight forward story. Like some of the old Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck shorts, there is an animator (in gloves) who spends the short manipulating a simple little stick figure man. Eventually, the stick man jumps off the paper and this is when the cartoon started to get interesting--at about the same time it ended.
While this was decent enough entertainment, the 1991 Oscars didn't seem to have a clear winner when I watched all three nominees one after the other. While all showed merit, none seemed all that distinguished--though of the three, MANIPULATION was actually my least favorite. Not a great year for the genre.
UPDATE 9/09--I just saw one of director Daniel Greaves' other films, FLAT WORLD. It was absolutely brilliant! Oddly, despite being one of the best and most creative animated films I've ever seen, it did NOT get an Oscar!! So, MANIPULATION did and the infinitely superior didn't! What sort of message is this?! See FLAT WORLD!! It is truly Greaves at his finest.
While this was decent enough entertainment, the 1991 Oscars didn't seem to have a clear winner when I watched all three nominees one after the other. While all showed merit, none seemed all that distinguished--though of the three, MANIPULATION was actually my least favorite. Not a great year for the genre.
UPDATE 9/09--I just saw one of director Daniel Greaves' other films, FLAT WORLD. It was absolutely brilliant! Oddly, despite being one of the best and most creative animated films I've ever seen, it did NOT get an Oscar!! So, MANIPULATION did and the infinitely superior didn't! What sort of message is this?! See FLAT WORLD!! It is truly Greaves at his finest.