Review of Wilde Stories

Introduction

This animated set features three stories previously aired on Channel 4, ambitiously retelling three classic tales penned by Oscar Wilde for his own children.

They each share a linked introduction featuring a mother, her daughter and a visiting uncle. These particular pieces have clearly used live footage and a rendered watercolour effect to create a kind of hybrid animation. Essentially this all looks like the saturated colour portraits of Andy Warhol, and left my two children a little bemused.

The blurb on the packaging claims that each episode features a distinctly different style of animation - but this isn`t strictly true. There are marked stylistic differences certainly, but overall there is a very British style to what`s on offer; the type of animation used in features like `The BFG` which has a distinctive style, yet is less rich than it`s Hollywood or Disney counterpart. There is a lack of detail in the movement so that someone`s expression remains fixed as they walk, for example, rather than many elements on the screen moving at once.

But overall there is a gentle, unhurried atmosphere to the tales that becomes quite enchanting if you`re in the mood. The soundtrack is rich with symphonic orchestration, penned by Debbie Wiseman, with wonderful sound effects and a great mix of first class voices, including Pete Postlewaite, Brendan Gleeson, Fiona Allen and Annie Chancellor.

The stories kick off with `The Nightingale and the Rose` which claims to get it`s stylistic inspiration from the art in vogue at the time of Wilde`s writing, so a touch of Klimt, Beardsley and particularly the work of lesser known stained glass window artist Harry Clark. Despite the lack of fluid movement, this is perhaps the most visually successful of the trilogy and the colours and textures are really very vibrant, resembling backlit stained glass. The tale is a tragic romance which sees a nightingale sacrifice it`s own life to allow a young student to deliver a rose to a young girl. Her cruel rejection of him is typical of these tales - not at all the sugary and happy ending we`d expect from a Disney movie. `What a stupid thing love is!` states the student, determined to dedicate the rest of his life to logic and reason which, of course, are far more reliable!

The second tale was by far the most satisfying and enjoyable, though somewhat clumsy in execution - this time taking it`s visual inspiration form children`s drawings. `The Selfish Giant` is about a giant who refuses to let children enjoy his spacious garden, and then suffers an eternal winter. Eventually a mysterious young boy makes the winter thaw and the giant recognises that children are "…the most precious flowers of all`. In short - one to play to your grumpy neighbours next time they moan about the noise your children are making!

The final tale is called `The Devoted Friend` and is rendered almost exclusively in monochrome in homage to `Film Noir`. Only Liam, the innocent and naïve gardener, and his flowers are seen in colour - and he himself `fades to grey` as the tale progresses and he becomes increasingly exhausted. I can`t help felling that the subtlety of this visual effect would be lost on most viewers, and the overall feel here is of a job half-done; like the animatics on a `making of documentary` of a feature animation. But the tale is compelling if a little depressing, it`s concluding lesson being `beware of so called friends who are merely using and abusing your good nature`.

Video

16:9 Anamorphic; straight from Digital Masters these tales are unsurprisingly crisp and flawless.

Audio

Presented in Dolby Digital Stereo, the soundtrack is rich and full - with beautifully recorded voice-overs set against an accomplished orchestral score. Apparently it was a CD of the music with voice-over that inspired the commissioning of the animations in the first place, so unusual in that respect.

Features

A simple menu with access to each of the presentations, and chapters within each, as well as an interesting `Making of` feature.The featurette is divided into segments; animation, actors and music, and they represent an interesting insight into the production process.

Conclusion

These classic children`s tales from Wilde are nicely adapted in simple short-form animation. They really benefit from an impressive soundtrack with some first class music. Whilst two of the tales may conclude in a surprisingly depressing way, they are intended to be thought provoking for the young. The truth is that, with a fairly steady diet of fast moving, sophisticated animations already, many children will find that these gentle homilies just miss the mark.