A gentleman panhandler. One of the pioneers of Canadian animation. Oscar nominee. Poor beggar. An artist unable to create. God observing the world. Fallen angel. Arrogant. Shy. Broken. Not destroyed.
- FROM THE NFB WEBSITE
As fan of animation and the artists, I was thrilled when I accidently discovered an amazing story about a brilliant Canadian talent. His name is Ryan Larkin. There were two parts on the DVD about Larkin. The first, an Academy Award winning animation tribute titled "Ryan" by another talented Canadian Chris Landreth. Although incredibly realistic and detailed, "Ryan" was created and animated without the use of live action footage, rotoscoping or motion capture...but instead from an original, personal, hand animated three-dimensional world which Landreth calls 'psychological realism'.
The second film was a documentary titled "Alter Egos". We find out from Director Laurence Green, that Larkin produced some of the most influential animated films of his time, including 1969's "Walking", which was nominated for an Oscar (but lost to "It's Tough to Be a Bird" by Walt Disney). Ryan was living every artist's worst nightmare - having lost his ability to create and succumbing to addiction, he panhandles on the streets to make ends meet.
After the success of Chris Landreth's animated film, it encouraged Larkin to start drawing again. He started on a film titled "Spare Change" about his life panhandling in Montreal. Sadly, he passed away in Feb. 2007 from lung cancer at age 63, not having finished the film.
I found out from a very nice friend of Larkin, Laurie of the band Chiwawa, that "Spare Change" will be in theatres soon, as well as airing on CBC and Bravo later in the year. I am anxious to see it as part of the Canadian Music Week, March 14 at the NFB Theatre.
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