Britannia (1993)
The history of empire. A British bulldog answers his mistress's call. He tacks down the Union Jack to cover the British Isles, then begins playing with a small ball that's the world. At first it's innocent play. The dog discovers tea in India; then, the dog shakes gold out of Africa. Gradually, innocence gives way to more and more ferocious play with the ball. We see terrorized women and children as the dog becomes an enslaving potentate. Harmless English archetypes benefit from colonial riches. Then the world begins to grow, and the dog changes too, from bulldog to effete lap dog.
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a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.
Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.
This short is an excellently animated look at the history of the British rise and decline as a colonial power, using a bulldog as the symbol of that rise and subsequent recession. Remarkable use of black and white versus color makes this even more noteworthy. Joanna Quinn has a nice touch with things. Her short Famous Fred is 180 degrees from Britannia and shows some breadth as well as depth to her work. This one was nominated for a BAFTA and deservedly so. It's available on Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation Vol. 3, if I recall the number correctly and the tape as a whole is worthy of your attention. Well worth watching. Most highly recommended.