Astigmatismo - Nicolai Troshisky

Astigmatismo from Troshinsky on Vimeo.

Watch the Making Of video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RX5Csypuj8

"Astigmatismo"

An animation short film by Nicolai Troshinsky

Music by Shogun Kunitoki
Sound design by Pierre Sauze
Character design by Gina Thorstensen
Background design by Cecilia Ramieri

Experimental animation Award – Animatou
Best Visuals – Animated Dreams
Best Debut Film - Primanima
Best technique – Animage
Most innovative animation – Giraf
Special Prize – Hiroshima Animation Festival
Special jury prize – Krok Animation Festival
Special jury prize – Malaga Spanish Film Festival
Special mention – Zagreb Animafest
Special mention - Cinanima
Special mention – Fantoche
Special mention – Interfilm Berlin
Special mention – Balkanima
Special mention – Bradford Animation Festival
Special mention – Supertoon
Special mention - Animasivo



Official selections:

2013:

Annecy, Fest Anca, Encounters, London International Animation Festival, Guanajuato International Film Festival, Chilemonos, Linoleum, Anibar, Animation Bloc Party, DOK Leipzig, Fantoche, Milano Film Festival, Message to Man, AnimEst, Animanima, Belo Horizonte, Animatou, SoDak Animation, La Guarimba, Uppsala International Film Festival, CutOut Fest, Cinanima, Bradford Animation Festival, Animage, Filma Oviedo, Sitges, Balkanima, Bankaluka Anima, Giraf, Primanima, L´Alternativa, Alcine, Tindirindis, Fida, Interfilm Berlin, Golden Orchid, Sommets du Cinema d'Animation, Animateka, 3D Wire, Etiuda & Anima, Anilogue, ReAnimania,

2014:

Sundance Film Festival, Anima, Ciné-court animé, Rotterdam Film Festival, Monstra, Animex, Animated Exeter, Offscreen, Creatrivas, Flatpack Film Festival, International Trickfilm-Festival Stuttgart, Dallas International Film Festival, Filmfest Dresden, Festival de Cine de Málaga, Nashville Film Festival, Future Film Festival, Animafest Zagreb, Oberhausen International Short Film Festival, Athens Animfest, Toronto Animation Arts Festival International, L´Inconnu Festival, Animayo, Northwest Animation Festival, Leiden International Short Film Experience, Olhar de Cinema – Curitiba Int’l Film Festival, Rooftop Films, Seattle International Film Festival, Bang Awards, LA Film Fest, Southside Film Festival, CinemaJove, Hiroshima International Animation Festival, New Horizons International Film Festival, Animasivo, Supertoon, Concorto, Krok, Chicago International Film Festival, Tallgrass film festival, Philadelphia Film Festival, Animated Dreams

"A boy, having lost his glasses, can only see one thing in focus at a time. His sight gets attracted by the sounds that surround him. He will have to explore a blurry world of unknown places and strange characters."

“Astigmatismo” is a short-film about the feeling of being lost. This feeling is created thanks to an extreme blur effect, leaving only a very tiny space in focus. The focus shifts and moves rhythmically, synchronized with the sounds and the music, revealing a constantly changing landscape.

The optical effect of blur is at the core of the film, so to make this effect as beautiful and authentic as possible "Astigmatismo" is shot in a 5-level multiplane using a special lens. The animation involves cut-out marionettes and paint on glass. Everything is entirely made by hand and there are no post production effects.

It is, however, computer-assisted. The camera and the lens were entirely controlled by computer making it possible to adjust the focus and the depth of field with extreme precision, allowing for a variety of focus effects that wouldn't have been possible to create otherwise. In this way, the film combines old school animation techniques with recent advances in camera technology.