At this last year’s Academy Awards, Guillermo del Toro
stepped up to the podium upon winning the Oscar for Best Animated Film and
talked about how animated features are ‘not a genre, but still cinema.’ While
I’m sure readers on this site will more than likely know this already, it’s a
great reminder that animation is just a choice in creating cinema and not
inherently separate.
This year, Panic Fest 2023 showcased a rather unique
“animated” horror feature that struck a unique chord with me. Agatha became
an unnerving cinematic venture that burrowed under my skin with its distinctive
visuals that blend animation and live action in one of the most fascinating
ways. It’s the kind of experimental style in film that warrants a viewing, even
if it makes some choices that may alienate some viewers.
My screening included a brief introduction by one of the
directors, Kelly Bigelow Becerra and she notes that the film was a combination
of animation and live action where the footage of the actors was painted –
frame by frame – over with the animation. It’s an interesting expectation
that’s set prior to the film. It’s almost necessary because being thrown into
the film might be a bit overwhelming for those not expecting what it is
bringing to the table.