Oscar Nod to Fantastic Flying Books Shows Love for Libraries
PrintA film allegory that celebrates the curative power of story in general—and reading in particular—won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short February 26. The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, a wordless film whose most inspiring scenes take place in a fanciful library full of living books, was produced by start-up Moonbot Studios in Shreveport, Louisiana, and depicts how the title character heals emotionally, over time, from the cataclysmic devastation of his personal world by Hurricane Katrina through the transformative properties of the written word.
Dedicated to the late HarperCollins children’s publishing giant William Morris and New Orleans children’s literature champion and storyteller Coleen Salley, the 14-minute 2-D short had already received awards at 13 film festivals. Fittingly, William Joyce, who created Morris Lessmore with codirector Brandon Oldenburg, has also written a yet-to-be-published children’s book of the same name and developed an iPad app that enables users to explore Lessmore’s world in a way that differs from the picture-book or film experience.
“The app and film build off the book—neither can be just regurgitation,” Joyce told American Libraries. “I see all of these things coming together in a way so that I can explore different avenues, different details, and different parts of the same narrative and give the reader more story.”
American Libraries, Wed, 02/29/2012 - 13:45
American Libraries Magazine | 50 East Huron | Chicago, IL 60611 | 2013© American Library Association | Staff Login
Comments
William Joyce - author and filmmaker
Interesting you should note that you think of William as an author for a couple of reasons. Joyce wanted to major in book illustration when he began his college studies at SMU, however switched his major to filmmaking. He began working as an illustrator after he graduated in 1981. While George Shrinks is his first self-illustrated book, he illustrated a few children’s books prior to it. A quick check on Worldcat will reveal that in 1983, two books he illustrated were published: My First Book of Nursery Tales by Marianna Mayer (Random) and Tammy and the Gigantic Fish by Catherine Gray (Harper & Row). In 1984, Waiting for Spring Stories by Bethany Roberts (Harper & Row) and William Joyce’s Mother Goose (Random) were released with his illustrations. Also, note that he didn’t go to the film industry — they came to him. Pixar approached him in 1995 to be a creative consultant on Toy Story. He has worked on several other major films in various capacities: Buddy, A Bug’s Life, Robots, Meet the Robinsons. Also, his books about Rolie Polie Olie were spun off for television and garnered 3 Emmy Awards. It is nice to see that William is back working on children’s books — both writing and illustrating — and balancing publishing with his filmwork. I think he would be happy to know you think of him as an author first. He was interviewed by the Baton Rouge Advocate years ago and described himself as a storyteller. I think he uses the venue that best tells the story — whether it’s book/print, film or now iPad apps. I’m just thrilled that he set this film in a library with lots of books around. It is really about the power of story. And it won an Oscar!
William Joyce - first an author
I know of William Joyce first and foremost as an author of Children’s books. His first book, George Shrinks, published in 1985 is on many a library shelf. I don’t think this article mentions that important fact. This is a delightful film for all bibliophiles and I am happy to see his work recognized.
Post new comment