Jon Dunleavy’s film nominated for British Animation Award

Two Gracious Uncles Smooched to the Beat is a philosophical debate on the legitimacy of art created by A.I. tools, as told through the medium of silliness. It discusses to what extent A.I. can produce new ideas, and if it can capture the genuine inventiveness that we celebrate in man-made artworks.

A nomination from the British Animation Awards is another recognition for the film after it spent much of 2023 touring in the best of the international animation festival circuit. It was shown in the WTF category at Annecy Animation Festival in France, in New York and Germany for the Pictoplasma Contemporary Character Design Conference and was selected at festivals including London International Animation Festival and Bitbang International Festival of Animation.

The film was supported by Norwich University of the Arts’ research programme. Dr Phil Archer, who is part of the University’s technical staff, produced and designed the sound for the film.

Jon Dunleavy, course leader for BA (Hons) Animation and BA (Hons) Animation and VFX said about the film:

‘It’s fantastic to hear an audience’s audible response to the film’s unusual rhythms. I purposely played with structure and form, both revealing and playing against stereotypical story beats (The famous Hero’s Journey is referenced throughout the film). A nomination for the BAA is the icing on the cake and I am proud that this weird, heartfelt and deeply contemplative film has connected with so many.

I made the film in January 2023, when generative art creation tools were fast gaining pace in the industry. The only use of generative art is the last (terrible) image in the film of Hobbits playing football. This is an example of the silly prompts many of us played with when exploring early incarnations of generative art tools like DALL-E.

Upon further investigation around the unethical processes these generators utilise and a very intelligent and exciting debate held by students and staff at Norwich University of the Arts, it become clear that generative art was generating some fear amongst some, but I heard and felt the passion that had ignited inside our students and staff teams. The debate, for me, revealed how the adventure of making art is as important to all of us as the final outcome.

I learn so much from our students and colleagues and the sprit of art is alive and kicking in our creative campus.’

The British Animation Awards celebrate everything that is great about the animation industry in the UK. The ceremony takes place every two years, supporting, promoting and crediting the very best of the past couple of year’s productions.

To find out more about Jon Dunleavy’s work, take a look at his website.