The Magic Canvas (1948)

By CinemaSerf

The opening slide gives us an idea as to what is intended here - an abstract ballet depicted through shapes. Initially, these shapes are random, but they evolve into more recognisable and better defined ones: human, animal, vegetable - and much of the pace comes from an evocative score that accompanies the simple but interesting animation. Firstly, a bird flying high, caught in a storm, exhausted but still migrating across land, desert and sea. It encounters an human before reverting back to the abstract and the ending. It's got a slightly evolutionary theme to it, I thought, as it finished pretty much where it starts. It's as enjoyable to listen to as it is to watch. Give it a go!