AFF Preview: The Even More Fun Trip

In what might be called Waking Life meets Rain Man, Bob Sabiston, the braintrust behind Linklater's two animated films (and those Charles Schwab commercials), brings beautiful backgrounds, and another insightful, revelatory use of filmic animation.

The premise is the documenting of a road trip to Six Flags with Ryan Powell, who is autistic. This is the latest in a series of trips the pair has taken (along with a group of friends). The other animated short, called Snack and Drink, follows Ryan as he heads to the 7-11 (you can see it here).

Austinites will recognize landmarks in each of the films, and at the same time, be exposed to the funny and strange world of autistics. In this case, the camera literally shambles after Ryan, as runs ahead and leads the group from ride to ride at Fiesta Texas.

The use of the animation (it's called rotoscoping) seems to be expanding to include more metaphorical and mood-driven images that stretch the genre's limits, which is fascinating to see. Occasionally disturbing, real insight into what it's like to have people with Autism in your life.

AFF Note: This plays as part of "Short Films 9" on Monday, October 20th at 3pm.