History of the World in Three Minutes Flat | |
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Directed by | Michael Mills |
Written by | Michael Mills |
Produced by | Michael Mills [1] [2] |
Narrated by | Vlasta Vrána |
Production company | Michael Mills Productions |
Release date |
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Running time | 3 minutes |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
History of the World in Three Minutes Flat is a 1980 Canadian animated short film, [3] directed by Michael Mills.
The film depicts a history of life on Earth, beginning with God (who had been given seven days to create the world but wasted the first six) hurriedly putting together the planet. Scenes rapidly progress from Biblical times to the Romans, Egyptians, the Dark Ages, the World Wars and finally up to the current day, where a group of people are seen arguing. When God yawns, however, the people begin to dance the curry their creator's favour. But God is unimpressed, saying, "Oh, well. Better try again." [4] (Despite the title, the film is actually three minutes and 24 seconds long.)
The short was animated by Bill Speers, John Gaug, Jim Hiltz, and Rick Bowan. [5]
This hugely successful film won a multitude of international awards. [6] The film received a Genie Award nomination for Best Theatrical Short Film at the 2nd Genie Awards in 1981, [7] and an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short Film [8] at the 53rd Academy Awards. [9] It won the award for Best Film Under Three Minutes at the 1980 Ottawa International Animation Festival, [10] the Short Film Golden Bear at the 1981 Berlin Film Festival, [4] a Golden Reel Award from the Canada Council's inaugural Canadian Short Films Showcase, [11] and the American Film and Video Festival's Blue Ribbon Award. [6]
The Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film is an award given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as part of the annual Academy Awards, or Oscars, since the 5th Academy Awards, covering the year 1931–32, to the present.
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary films, animation, web documentaries, and alternative dramas. In total, the NFB has produced over 13,000 productions since its inception, which have won over 5,000 awards. The NFB reports to the Parliament of Canada through the Minister of Canadian Heritage. It has bilingual production programs and branches in English and French, including multicultural-related documentaries.
The history of Canadian animation involves a considerable element of the realities of a country neighbouring the United States and both competitiveness and co-operation across the border.
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Wendy Tilby and Amanda Forbis are a Canadian animation duo. On January 24, 2012, they received their second Oscar nomination, for the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) animated short film, Wild Life (2011). With their latest film, The Flying Sailor, they received several nominations and awards, including for the Best Canadian Film at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, and on January 24, 2023, they received a nomination for the 95th Academy Awards under the category Best Animated Short Film.
Michael Mills is a British-born Canadian producer and director of short films. He has received two Oscar nominations. He also made the Canadian Anthem Animation for Television stations, still being used by CBC Television and Ici Radio-Canada Télé.
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The Genie Award for Best Theatrical Short Film was a Canadian film award, historically presented by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television through its Genie Awards program to a film judged as the year's best short film. The award has been inclusive of short films in the live action drama, animated and documentary genres.
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