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Chromophobia
The grey legions invade the world of colour to establish their colourless dominance. Resistance appears in the shape of a scarlet jester, who restores the reign of colour using his chromatic trickery.
Belgian Shorts 3: The Pictural Tradition
80 minutes
Enter the world of Belgian animators who can't ignore the country's rich pictorial tradition: from pioneer Raoul Servais to younger artists who continue his legacy.
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Belgium’s relationship with animation is anything but boring. Just as the country’s politics, its artistic output is lively and often surrealist. Today, animators like Emma de Swaef & Marc Roels continue a long-standing Belgian tradition of surrealism, magic realism and absurdism, without ever losing focus of profound human emotions. And it only seems like yesterday when the late Raoul Servais pioneered the medium in Belgium in the sixties, initiating a separate department for animation film at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent – a first for continental Europe.
Belgium loves to experiment, not just with fries and waffles. In the previous century, artists dabbled with “Ride” movies, 3D projections, and the interplay between live-action and animation. Brussels was once the capital of European animation, housing the largest animation film studio in Western Europe. Despite the country’s modest size, it has produced many a great animation film auteur, who went on to garner acclaim around the world – it feels almost surreal Hollywood has never made a call.
Yet, the Belgian animation scene is notoriously hard to pin down. At first glance, nobody seems to have anything in common … But put two and two together and the connections become apparent: a passion for graphic art deeply rooted in Belgium’s rich pictorial tradition (thank you, Flemish Masters), a nostalgic return to traditional techniques (especially stop-motion), and humour. Lots of humour, preferably of the most absurd kind. And of course, surrealism is never far from the party, and why would it be? After all, the surrealist art movement practically originated in Belgium. Or did anyone forget about René Magritte and his pipe?
Belgium In the Picture
Belgian animation filmmakers like to draw on the country’s rich pictorial tradition: from the world-revered Flemish Masters to the pioneers of surrealism and magic realism. In this programme, films by the godfather of Belgian animation, Raoul Servais, enter into dialogue with work by younger artists who move with ease between the worlds of illustration, painting and animated film.
This program screened as part of Kaboom Animation Festival 2025
Showing in this program
Genius Loci
One night, Reine, a young loner, sees within the urban chaos a mystical oneness that seems alive, like some sort of guide.
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Hold Me Tight
In the heart of a dark forest, two silhouettes meet, attract and repel each other in an explosive bridal parade. "Hold Me Tight" is a bittersweet romance.
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Nocturnal Butterflies
A moth leads us to the waiting room of a night-time station where a surreal sketch takes place. Inspired by the oeuvre of Paul Delvaux.
Silent Panorama
At dawn, in the nature, a couple of campers are awakened by noises from outside. As they leave their tent, they notice that one of their clothes has fallen into a stream and is being carried away by the current. Equipped with a flashlight, they set off in pursuit.
Simbiosis Carnal
A poetic journey through the history of desire and sexuality where the female pleasure, long ignored and repressed, takes pride of place.
The Lying Angel
Have Noah and Darwin overlooked something? Aboard the "Lying Angel" the party of the most successful liars is getting completely out of hand. Who survives the Homo Sapiens, who is the greatest fantasist here?
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