Lucinda Clutterbuck "Tiga" (1989)

Researching a movie for the Animation Blog often throws into focus the paucity of original comment. For example the phrase “a stunning animation about the now extinct Tasmanian Tiger” is frequently used to introduce today’s movie Tiga. Tiger it was not, rather a dog that managed to survive on the island of Tasmania until the 1930s where its reported appetite for sheep and competition with other dogs led to untimely extinction. Just long enough within the 20th Century for some footage of the last recorded zoo specimen walking in that sadly repetitive manner of caged animals. Director Lucinda Clutterbuck includes rotoscoping in her evocation of the animal, from within its cage to a more romantic presence amidst the beautiful natural surroundings. Lucinda presents the animal in an ever changing array of colours, the tiger revelling in its natural element but seeming illusive and transitory even there. Voices of those who knew the animal in their youth or believe it still exists provide a wistful commentary over an uplifting soundtrack of exotic music. Lucinda's use of colour, light and shade is that of the true artist, whilst the movement of the animals and our travels through the landscape are stunning - there, I've used the word. Lucinda trained as an artist at Les Beaux Arts de Paris before subsequently taking up animation. She has made some twenty films. I recommend a visit to the website she shares with Ray Argall for their company Piccolo Films. She has latterly concentrated on her artwork with the examples being rather beautiful and certainly reminiscent of Tiga, her most recognised work. The following illustration however is by Rod Scott.