Bruno Bozzetto
Bruno Bozzetto:
The Maestro of the Italian Animation
by: Talal Nayer
Have you heard of Tapum! La Storia delle Armi? It was one of the first animated films by Bruno Bozzetto (born in Milan on 3 March 1938). It's an amusing way of illustrating and summarising the history of weapons, or in other words, the history of mankind. Bozzetto used his clever and funny way of describing things to show us how violent humans have been since the very beginning. He started with the first extinct rational man, Homo-sapiens-idaltu, who used the club to hunt and kill. Then he went on to show us how humans have used weapons ever since, right up to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the Americans in the Second World War. Bozzetto thought that human consciousness was the first weapon in history and that it was also the most powerful.
Bruno Bozzetto was just 20 years old when he produced his first film back in 1958. He did almost everything by himself, from writing the script to designing the animation, directing, drawing and colouring the backgrounds. The film's music was composed by Mario Coppola. Bozzetto used Kodachrome to show the colours in his first film, and it was a great choice! Kodachrome used a subtractive colour method to be successfully mass-marketed. The lovely Kodachrome was something truly revolutionary by the standards of that era. In fact, there's even a national park named after this wonderful brand! Kodachrome Basin State Park was named in 1949 after National Geographic magazine published a stunning photographic report about this park. Now, the Kodachrome is part of history.
Let's dive into the fascinating history of Bruno Bozzetto! He was a true pioneer in the world of animation, always exploring the nuances of human behaviour from different angles. He had a knack for delving deep into the complexities of our species. In 1990, he created one of his most celebrated films, Cavallette or Grasshoppers. It's a political and satirical animation that takes us on a journey through the history of humanity, from the Stone Age to the modern age. The idea behind the film can be summed up in a phrase from the King James Version of the Bible: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”
Cavallette or Grasshoppers is a gentle, almost silent, commentary on the aggression of humans. The film jumps randomly in the timeline of a history full of massacres and wars, but also offers a light-hearted look at the darker side of this history. It shows how people from all races and civilisations have lived, fought and died unnecessarily when they were unaware of a life that was more peaceful and joyful to others. Grasshoppers, on the other hand, live happily between the grass, eating, jumping and humping. Bozzetto used the grass symbolically in his film to show how human beings have evolved since the dawn of history. It's a bit sad to see how our violence has evolved too! In another scene, a hand that the grass – and nature generally – is metaphorically and realistically is the logical replacement of human nonsense and shallowness. This lovely little film is like a gentle nudge to think differently about war and to enjoy life. Bozzetto and his film enjoyed a worldwide success after it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short for the Oscars of 1991. Before releasing Tapum! Bozzeto has been making shorts and experimental films since 1954. His work includes I Ladri Che Mascalzoni, Indian Fantasy, and Il Cerchio Si Stringe. In 1955, he produced Piccolo Mondo Amico, followed by A Filo D’ Erba, I Gatti Questi Furbacchioni, Tico Tico, and Dama in 1957.
Bozetto was also a very talented animator who created some absolutely wonderful, hilarious films with a political edge. But he was also a gifted storyteller who crafted some truly delightful, heartwarming tales. I just love Signor Rossi! He’s such a charming character who made his debut in a series of short films, each about ten minutes long. The show was on our screens for a whopping 15 years between 1960 and 1974! It had six episodes, three movies and 11 skits. Rossi is a name that's familiar to everyone in Italy. Naming this character Mr. Rossi suggests that he represents the everyday Italian, which I think is a lovely idea! Bozzetto is also famous for Europe vs. Italy, a short film where he pokes fun at the stereotypes about Italy and the Italian way of life. It's a light-hearted way of looking at ourselves and our culture, which makes life a little happier for us all – and that's a wonderful thing!
Bruno Bozzetto's masterpiece, Allegro Non Troppo (1976), is a wonderful celebration of diversity. It features six pieces of classical music and is considered a playful parody of Walt Disney's Fantasia (1940). Bozzetto's magnificent abilities and deep philosophical cinematography shine in this film, where he uses psychedelic atmospheres to explore the depths of his creativity. Bozzetto first introduced us to the story of the old and ugly Satyr – a male nature spirit representing sex, alcohol, and nature – who has been blinded by his brutish lust, or desires. The passion led Satyr to suffer because of the deprivation and the rejection and his failure to recapture his youth. The Satyr's obsessive lust kept him blind to the bigger picture. He was unable to see the beauty of the universe, which is the greatest desire anyone could have if they just take a moment to look around.
The poster for Allegro Non Troppo comes from the third story, in which primordial sugar water at the bottom of a Coca-Cola bottle left behind by space travellers gives life. Intentionally or not, this could be a comic projection of the Raëlist explanation of the birth of life. The Raëlists believe that humans were created by aliens, and that all gods and prophets are aliens who came from outer space to create humans in their image.
Bruno Bozzetto is a truly remarkable filmmaker. He has received an incredible 130 acknowledgements for his work, including the Winsor McCay Award, five Silver Ribbon Awards, an honorary degree, 15 Awards for Career Achievement, an Oscar nomination for his short film "Grasshoppers," and a Berlin Golden Bear Award for "Mr. Tao." It would take a whole book to list and analyse the filmography of Bruno Bozzetto! In 2013, The Walt Disney Family Museum paid tribute to him and celebrated his great diversity in style and themes, as well as his consistency and creativity. With hundreds of films made over more than 60 years, it's easy to see why he's been called "The Maestro of Animation".
