Chromophobia is an award-winning short film, directed by the animation pioneer Raoul Servais in 1966, and holding up perfectly to this day because of its stunning aesthetics, as well as its strong content. As Raoul Servais said in an interview with Philippe Moins in the Animation World Network, the common theme of all his films is mankind's "longing for freedom, peace and justice."
And in this respect, Chromophobia is a case in point: a timeless anti-authoritarian manifesto, visualising an army taking over the world, and destroying all things colourful, until it meets resistance by a little girl, an artist, and a jester who is born out of a flower. The imposition of uniformity will be averted by the forces of innocence, creativity, and imagination, and colourful diversity will prevail.
Raoul Servais' designs and use of colour draw upon the expressive codes of the visual arts rather than the conventions of commercial animation. Furthermore, Chromophobia is great cinema, displaying an inventive narrative, unpredictable shots and frames, and an exemplary use of sounds rather than words; and its sharp surrealist edge puts forward an insightful critique of authoritarianism.
And in this respect, Chromophobia is a case in point: a timeless anti-authoritarian manifesto, visualising an army taking over the world, and destroying all things colourful, until it meets resistance by a little girl, an artist, and a jester who is born out of a flower. The imposition of uniformity will be averted by the forces of innocence, creativity, and imagination, and colourful diversity will prevail.
Raoul Servais' designs and use of colour draw upon the expressive codes of the visual arts rather than the conventions of commercial animation. Furthermore, Chromophobia is great cinema, displaying an inventive narrative, unpredictable shots and frames, and an exemplary use of sounds rather than words; and its sharp surrealist edge puts forward an insightful critique of authoritarianism.
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