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The Works of Norman McLaren

Before Kraftwerk or Atari there was Norman McLaren. Norman McLaren was born in 1914 in Stirling, Scotland. McLaren attended the Glasgow School of Art for set design. His films are recognizable for his experimental work with image and sound. Not having easy access to a camera, McLaren experimented with his filmmaking by scratching, painting and melting the film stock itself. He also developed his own revolutionary techniques for combining and synchronizing animation with music.

The soundtracks that McLaren used in his films were often of his own making. Although composed as early as the 1940’s and right through to the 1970’s, similar scores would not make their way into the mainstream until the 1980’s. McLaren likely had to create his own sound-makers, machines, and instruments long before musicians like the Nihilist Spasm Band, Johnny Greenwood or Aphex Twin would. A mere still image from one of McLaren’s many short films brings to mind the works of Paul Rand or Peter Saville and demonstrates both his interest in and his significant influence on graphic design. In 1941 McLaren moved to Canada to work for the National Film Board. Having produced over 60 movies, his most famous film Neighbors (1952) won an Academy Award and in 1968 McLaren was awarded the Officer of the Order of Canada. McLaren passed away in 1987. To honor McLaren’s genius, the National Film Board named both their head office in Montreal as well as a district in the Montreal borough of St.Laurent after him.Dots-1940
Music and film Norman McLaren