Better Military Modelling is the second short film in the New Educational Series, an animated series intricately constructed from images sourced from out-dated instruction and education manuals of the 60’s and 70’s. Set in a shifting and illusory aquarium, Better Military Modelling re-imagines childhood knowledge through a playful pastiche of images, movement and sound. Crudely hand-cut images of soldiers, fish and houses collide amid shimmering landscapes to create an atmosphere of uncertainty and energy. Reminiscent of a submerged toy battlefield, the hand-drawn images flicker in and out of focus, moving in and through the space to take the viewer on a surreal, dreamlike journey through alternating dimensions. The soundtrack designed for Better Military Modelling immerses the listener in an experimental soundscape, mirroring the nostalgic and otherworldly setting of the animation. In creating a fantastical environment informed by a wealth of detail, Better Military Modelling is an ambiguous and engaging film where the audience is called to draw upon their own personal store of memories and associations to reconstruct an imagined past.
