Lead image TXT 1: Writer Tosca Menten (left) and director Mascha Halberstand in the setting of the film. Photo: Broadcasting Gelderland
Lead Image 2:
Lead image TXT 2: A small silicone pig plays the leading role in the film Oink. Photo: Broadcasting Gelderland
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Lead image TXT 3: Animator Jasper Kuipers at work. Photo: Broadcasting Gelderland
Shot from the movie Knor!. Photo: Mascha Halberstad
ARNHEM – Jubilant reviews and fifteen countries that have bought it: the Arnhem animation film Knor is already a success, although it can only be seen in cinemas for one day. It is the first Dutch stop-motion feature film ever, according to the makers, who worked on it for years in a warehouse in Arnhem.
The decor of oink: streets, houses and shops, all eight times smaller than in reality and imitated in detail. The protagonist is standing on the grass next to the vegetable garden: a piglet made of silicone around an iron frame that is about three centimeters in size.
Based on book
oink! tells the story of the nine-year-old girl Babs who receives a pig from her grandfather for her ninth birthday. Babs is overjoyed with Knor, but Grandpa has other plans for Knor: he wants to win a sausage contest. Director Mascha Halberstad based her film on the book Knorr’s Revenge by Tosca Menten.
A small silicone pig plays the leading role in the film Knor – Photo: Omroep Gelderland
The writer happens to be walking around in the studio and marvels at the decor. “It’s so amazing,” she says, snapping one shot after another. And then, with a big burst of laughter: “Honestly, the movie is even better than the book.”
Twelve photos per second
Director Mascha Halberstad listens with a smile. “I’m so incredibly proud of this film, which we’ve worked on for so long. oink has been in my life for eight years.”
Making a stop-motion film is very labour-intensive: the puppets are brought to life by moving them a little bit at a time and taking a photo each time. “Sometimes we spend hours for 1 second of film. And the film lasts 72 minutes.”
‘This doll is alive’
As an animator, Jasper Kuipers is closely involved in the creation of oink! and speaks of tangible magic, while working with the figures. “I have a clay doll that stands still and does nothing, but if I move it and photograph it, and again, and again, the doll comes to life. And if I do my job well, then we really believe that this doll is alive,” says Kuipers with a twinkle in his eye. “It’s still magic to me. Every time again.”
Animator Jasper Kuipers at work – Photo: Omroep Gelderland
Never dare to dream
The red carpet rolls out for Halberstad’s film. Went in February oink! already had its world premiere in Berlin and since this Wednesday the animation film has been shown in the Netherlands. No fewer than fifteen countries showed interest in the film and purchased the stop-motion film.
“I never dreamed that,” says the director. “I think the old technique of stop-motion makes it very tangible. And in addition, it is of course a fantastic story by Tosca. Not a sappy children’s film, but with an edge. Also fun for adults. So go and watch it all. ”
However, the story is not finished yet. Halberstad has now started work on a prequel of oink!: the story of the piglet before the story as it is now seen on the silver screen.
The chemistry between the different members of the animation team actually made the makers want to write an extra chapter in Knor’s life. “We have worked with such a fantastic team and actually couldn’t say goodbye yet.”
Take a look at the studio and the set of the film Knor!:
