El Doctor, Joy Street & Asparagus: The
Wonderfully Strange and Surreal Animation of Suzan Pitt
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: B- Film: C
Dark,
twisted, tantalizing, and inspiring.
There are many words that can describe the art of Suzan Pitt with her
different and skillful style that transfers somewhat difficultly to film, but
nevertheless interesting. In this DVD
entitled The Wonderfully Strange and
Surreal Animation of Suzan Pitt compilation we have three animated short
films including Asparagus, Joy Street, and El Doctor. Each animated film is interesting for its own
individuals reasons. Suzan Pitt’s art is
simply amazing that is mostly inspired by many Mexican elements from the dark
and eerie side to the brighter hopeful sides of rebirth and renewal.
The
animated short ‘Asparagus’ is quite abstract and maintains a sexually charged
atmosphere throughout with its blend of color, characters, and decadence in its
nightmare/twisted world. A second
animated short ‘Joy Street’ maintains Pitt’s dark aura using the central story
of a suicidal woman who is saved by the most unlikely of characters and risen
up to a place of self realization and renewal.
The final short ‘El Doctor’ centers on life of a
doctor in the 1940’s, this short utilizing the art of Mexico as its backdrop, a
doctor who spends more time in the bar than the operating room. This last short contains the best storyline,
art, and holds an audiences interest to the end.
The
picture quality is adequate at best in its 1.33 X 1 full frame format at times
being grainy and dark even beyond the intended nature of Suzan Pitt’s
artwork. The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is
also lacking somewhat muffled, unclear, and has balance issues. The extras are the saving grace of the DVD
featuring a much disserved featurette on the making of Suzan Pitt’s animation,
a Suzan Pitt Art Gallery, and further features on the artist.
Overall,
this DVD is an excellent presentation of Suzan Pitt’s animation for fans and
new comers. Pitt emphasizes the concepts
of a dark art style infused with Mexican culture, the blending together of
these styles creates art that is intriguing and interesting. Overall, this particular title is a good DVD
with interesting art concepts.
- Michael P Dougherty II
