From Norman McLaren and René Jodoin comes a 1969 short animation called “Spheres.” Here, you can watch “spheres of translucent pearl float weightlessly in the unlimited panorama of the sky, grouping, regrouping or colliding like the stylized burst of some atomic chain reaction.” All the while, “the dance is set to the musical cadences of Bach, played by pianist Glenn Gould.” A perfect combination.
This film participates in a long tradition of animations exploring geometry, some of which you can find in the Relateds right below.
If you would like to sign up for Open Culture’s free email newsletter, please find it here.
If you would like to support the mission of Open Culture, consider making a donation to our site. It’s hard to rely 100% on ads, and your contributions will help us continue providing the best free cultural and educational materials to learners everywhere. You can contribute through PayPal, Patreon, and Venmo (@openculture). Thanks!
Related Content:
The First Avant Garde Animation: Watch Walter Ruttmann’s Lichtspiel Opus 1 (1921)
Chuck Jones’ The Dot and the Line Celebrates Geometry & Hard Work: An Oscar-Winning Animation (1965)
Journey to the Center of a Triangle: Watch the 1977 Digital Animation That Demystifies Geometry
Watch “Geometry of Circles,” the Abstract Sesame Street Animation Scored by Philip Glass (1979)
Leave a Reply