This is a very nice looking animated film from the National Film Board of Canada. When the film began, I recognized the unusual process of animation. It is created by using oil paints on glass--a technique that has been used by several artists over the years. The most famous and talented of these artists is Aleksandr Petrov, whose films have received the Oscar and been nominated repeatedly. I absolutely love his work and watching the film is like watching a gorgeous painting come to life. Now the artwork of THE PHOENIX, while similar, is light-years behind Petrov's in quality. This isn't a complaint--the folks who made this film worked very hard and it shows. It's just that Petrov is head and shoulders above everyone with this technique.
As for the story, it's about rich man who seeks the rare Phoenix for his aviary. Later, after he dies, it goes to a man with a zoo who is a bit of a jerk. This is especially true when the crowds stop coming to see this bird. So, he plans on trying to kill it--after all, when a Phoenix dies, it's reborn in a burst of flames and its new form is even more beautiful. However, his cruel scheme backfires--leading to a grim conclusion to the tale.
Overall, nice artwork and an okay story. I just wish the story had ended a bit differently--it seemed like a bit of a letdown. Otherwise, it's still well worth seeing.
