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Oscar® Nominee, Best Short Film (Animated), 2011

Wild Life

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2011 13 min
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In 1909, a dapper young remittance man is sent from England to Alberta to attempt ranching. However, his affection for badminton, bird watching and liquor leaves him little time for wrangling cattle. It soon becomes clear that nothing in his refined upbringing has prepared him for the harsh conditions of the New World. This animated short is about the beauty of the prairie, the pang of being homesick and the folly of living dangerously out of context.

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Wild Life

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In 1909, a dapper young remittance man is sent from England to Alberta to attempt ranching. However, his affection for badminton, bird watching and liquor leaves him little time for wrangling cattle. It soon becomes clear that nothing in his refined upbringing has prepared him for the harsh conditions of the New World. This animated short is about the beauty of the prairie, the pang of being homesick and the folly of living dangerously out of context.

Agriculture History - Canada - 1867-1919 All subjects
Animation All channels
  • director
    Amanda Forbis
    Wendy Tilby
  • cast
    Adam Blackwood
    Luba Goy
    Anthony Bekenn
    Keith Dinicol
    Colin Fox
    Nonnie Griffin
    Ben Carlson
    Amy Rutherford
  • casting
    Gail Carr
  • original music
    Judith Gruber-Stitzer
  • sound supervision
    Patrick Butler
  • editing
    Patrick Butler
  • sound editing
    Brent Planiden
  • foley
    Andy Malcolm
  • additional painting
    Deborah Tilby
    Corinne Dickson
    Val Nelson
  • additional animation
    Stephen McCallum
    Olivier Masson
  • infographics
    Brandon Blommaert
    Fred Casia
  • digital effects
    Brandon Blommaert
    Fred Casia
  • digital imaging consultation
    Randall Finnerty
    Susan Gourley
    Pierre Plouffe
  • scanning
    Kelly Clarkson
  • online editing
    Yannick Carrier
  • titles
    Gaspard Gaudreau
  • music recording
    Geoffrey Mitchell
    Mathieu Leroux
    Don Murnaghan
  • music mix
    Geoffrey Mitchell
    Mathieu Leroux
    Don Murnaghan
  • voice recording
    Ron Mellegers
    Thillaye Productions
    Jonathan Cook
    Ryan Aktari
  • foley recording
    David J. Taylor
  • final mix
    Jean Paul Vialard
  • vocals
    Russell De Carle
  • archival research
    Elizabeth Klinck
    Sylvia Mezei
  • rights
    Elizabeth Klinck
    Sylvia Mezei
  • technical coordination
    Steve Hallé
    Julie Laperrière
  • production coordination
    Marie-Christine Nadon
    Elaine Largie
    Lysanne Fortier
  • administration
    Gisèle Guilbault
    Darin Clausen
  • marketing
    Julie Armstrong-Boileau
  • producer
    Marcy Page
    Bonnie Thompson
  • executive producer
    David Christensen
    David Verrall

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Education

Ages 14 to 16
Study Guide
Guide 1
School subjects
Geography - Territory: Regional History - Early Colonization/Settlement
As a class, brainstorm all the reasons why the young Englishman decided to go to Canada in 1909. Identify the ways in which he was unprepared for this new lifestyle. What could he have done to better his chances of survival during his first winter? Comment on the comet analogy that runs through the film. Research the life of a Canadian rancher at the turn of the last century. Extension: Compare ranching as it exists today in the Prairies to the early settlement days.
Wild Life
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