Étude

The idea of musical étude as a form of practising and perfecting a particular skill is expanded in this animated short by Robert Duncan. Divided into chapters, including line and colour, the animator explores each specific element. Lines scribble across the screen or morph into boxes, accompanied by Laren Polic's jazz-inflected electronica score.

The idea and the shapes are simple - a cube, a circle, textured backgrounds - but the overall effect is quite meditative. Each of the sections has a distinctive soundscape, with the Colour section animation having a ying and yang vibe, as the musical rolls gently, while the Texture section has a much stronger jazz feel to it, with hints of Jan Garbarek, and the animation takes on an angular edge.

The final section, Blend, brings all the elements - both musical and animated satisfyingly together. This short was one of Duncan's graduate films Edinburgh College of Art and his control of craft bodes well for his future.

Watch it below

Etude from Robert Duncan on Vimeo.