Animal Behaviour

Directed by David Fine and Alison Snowden

Canada, 2018 (animation, 14 minutes, colour, English)

Also known as "Zoothérapie"

Image: © National Film Board of Canada

Video (National Film Board of Canada)
Video (National Film Board of Canada) [French]

Film Description:
"Dealing with what comes naturally isn't easy, especially for animals. In Animal Behaviour [...], five animals meet regularly to discuss their inner angst in a group therapy session led by Dr. Clement, a canine psychotherapist. The group includes Lorraine, a leech who suffers from separation anxiety; Cheryl, a praying mantis who can't seem to keep a man; Todd, a pig with an eating disorder; Jeffrey, a bird with guilt issues; and Linda, an obsessive-compulsive cat."
-- National Film Board of Canada (source)

Film Credits (partial):
Written by:	Alison Snowden, David Fine
Produced by:	Michael Fukushima
Principal Cast:	Ryan Beil, Taz Van Rassel, Leah Juel, Andrea Libman, Toby Berner, James Kirk, Alison Snowden
Animation:	Alison Snowden, David Fine
Music:	Judith Gruber-Stitzer
Production Company:	National Film Board of Canada / Office national du film du Canada

(sources)

Award won by Animal Behaviour

Canadian Screen Award: Best Animated Short -- awarded to David Fine, Alison Snowden

Notes about Animal Behaviour

Shown at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018.
Nominated for an Academy Award in the Short Film (Animated) category.

(sources)

Quote about Animal Behaviour

"I love the films we [the National Film Board of Canada] produce, and I encourage our filmmakers, but their films do tend to be more serious and art-driven. Just plain laugh-out-loud comedy is not what we do all the time anymore. Alison [Snowden] and David [Fine] are masters of a certain kind of dry comedy that I think the NFB needed."
-- Michael Fukushima (source)

Bibliography for Animal Behaviour

Articles from Newspapers, Magazines, or News Websites

Ahearn, Victoria. "Oscar-nominated duo faced health scare." Interview with David Fine, Alison Snowden. Victoria Times Colonist, February 20, 2019.
Dunlevy, T'cha. "Oscar-nominated NFB short goes long with laughter; Animal Behaviour ponders an array of fidgety, anxious, neurotic creatures." Interview with Michael Fukushima. Montreal Gazette, February 16, 2019.
Fayerman, Pamela. "Film an ode to life-saving hospital team; Animated short dedicated to medical professionals at Vancouver General." Vancouver Sun, November 13, 2018.
Gee, Dana. "Animated short nets filmmaking couple fourth Academy Award nomination." Interview with David Fine, Alison Snowden. Vancouver Sun, January 23, 2019.
Gee, Dana. "Basic Instinct; Therapy goes to the dogs in animated short as animals gather to sort out their feelings." Interview with David Fine, Alison Snowden. Vancouver Sun, September 6, 2018.
Hertz, Barry. "Canadian animators draw Oscar's attention." Globe and Mail, January 23, 2019.
Rubinoff, Joel. "Animation duo looks to Oscars." Interview with David Fine. Toronto Star, February 19, 2019.

Web Sites about Animal Behaviour

National Film Board of Canada. "NFB -- Animal Behaviour." National Film Board of Canada. http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=60290.
Office national du film du Canada. "ONF -- Zoothérapie." Office national du film du Canada. http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/fr/notre-collection/?idfilm=67413&gal=1. [in French]