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Kaj Pindal (14)
Kaj Pindal
Born in Denmark, Kaj Pindal joined the NFB in 1957. He directed the beloved NFB children’s animated shorts The Peep Show (1962) and then its follow up, a full generation later, Peep and the Big Wide World (1988), narrated by Peter Ustinov. Working with Les Drew, he directed the Oscar-nominated animated mockumentary What on Earth! (1966), a humorous look at car culture that received international theatrical and TV distribution. His 1970 short The City (Osaka) was showcased at the Canadian pavilion at Expo '70 in Osaka. He also directed a segment of the Canada-Yugoslavia co-produced animated feature film Man the Polluter (1973).
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CaninabisKaj Pindal 1979 9 minKaj Pindal's animated short from the late 1970s features a canine narcotics officer who burns out after sampling a little too much product. Driven by his love of cannabis, a street dog displays incredible promise for the drug squad when he chases down a local dealer. He makes headlines worldwide as he takes on smugglers and crime lords. But when his drug habit and his work inevitably collide, a clear message emerges: dogs and cannabis don't mix. -
The City (Osaka)Kaj Pindal 1970 7 minAn animated fantasy that shows Canadians as urbanized people developing a vast wilderness with the aid of the latest technologies. Shown as part of the Urban Environment exhibit in the Canadian pavilion at the international exposition, Osaka '70.
*Note: as this film was initially created as part of a wider exhibition, animation only begins at 2:16, after some music.* -
MAN THE POLLUTERDon Arioli , Hugh Foulds , … 1972 52 minA film that enlarges on humanity’s capacity to foul its own nest, and to ignore it. Made by a joint team of Canadian and Croatian animation artists, the film transmits its warning with unflagging humour, imagination, movement and design. It consists of 14 shorts, as well as comical segments—played by actors—that introduce and serve as transitions between the animated pieces. The film comments on our responsibility, on a global scale, to conserve what is left of our vital resources and usable environment.
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Man: The PolluterDon Arioli , Hugh Foulds , … 1973 53 minThis feature-length animation is a richly illustrated cartoon film with an environmental message: how much longer can humans foul their own nest and ignore the consequences? Made by a joint team of Canadian and Yugoslav animation artists, the film transmits its warning with unflagging humour, imagination, movement and design. In between animated sequences, Dr. Fred H. Knelman, Professor of Science and Human Affairs at Montreal’s Concordia University, comments on the importance of what is shown and on what lies in store if more responsibility is not taken on a global scale to conserve what is left of our vital resources.
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Pot-pourriJeff Hale , Austin Campbell , … 1962 7 minA selection of publicity clips mounted together in one film to show the techniques of NFB animators. As in Hors-d'oeuvre, these "quickie" films were produced originally for government agencies, to carry messages to the public.
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The Peep ShowKaj Pindal 1962 8 minThis short cartoon film for young kids tells the adventures of a little chick from the time he falls from an egg basket and breaks out of his shell. Together with a duck who waddles along, he goes to explore the world and discovers there is much to learn, even in his own farmyard. (The Peep Show is an early version of the acclaimed cartoon Peep and the Big Wide World.)
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King SizeKaj Pindal 1968 6 minThis short animation about the perils of tobacco smoking takes us to the kingdom of King Size, a land where "no smoking" is illegal. Here, intoxication dangers and health risks linked to cigarettes are blissfully ignored, and non-smokers are unwelcome. A humorous invitation for young people not to start smoking, or if they have, to relinquish the hazardous habit.
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Peep and the Big Wide WorldKaj Pindal 1988 34 minThis series of three 10-minute films features Peep the chicken, Chirp the robin and Quack the duck. On their travels, they meet a cat, a ladybug, a turtle and a frog who speaks from both sides of his mouth. Narrated by Peter Ustinov, these films are great for young children aged 3–5.
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What on Earth!Les Drew & Kaj Pindal 1966 9 minThis animated short proposes what many earthlings have long feared – that the automobile has inherited the planet. When life on Earth is portrayed as one long, unending conga-line of cars, a crew of extra-terrestrial visitors understandably assume they are the dominant race. While humans, on the other hand, are merely parasites. An Oscar® nominee, this film serves as an entertaining case study.
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Hors-d'oeuvreGerald Potterton , Robert Verrall , … 1960 7 minThis film is a collection of 1-minute cartoons produced by NFB animators for government sponsors. Showcasing a playful selection of animation techniques, the clips include reminders about television programs, traffic safety rules, and admonitions from the Department of Labour.
