Any reason to celebrate the National Film Board of Canada is a good one; the NFB is a model for government-funded arts organizations, both in the freedom granted its filmmakers and its long string of successes. In this case the 75th anniversary of the NFB has led Les Musees de la civilization in Québec City, Canada, to mount “Frame x Frame: Animated Film at the NFB.” The show not only highlights the NFB and its filmmakers, but puts both in the context of the history of animation.
The exhibit begins with an introduction on the development of the animated film, including examples by Émile Cohl, Winsor McCay, and others, then follows with five thematic sections: social history, comedy, musicals, fantasy, and experimental work.