Richard Roger Reeves (born September 21, 1959) is a Canadian animated filmmaker.[1][2] He is known for his whimsical abstract animated films created using a drawn on film technique.
In many of his films, Reeves creates his soundtracks through graphical sound, drawing directly on the optical sound strip area of the film as well as the visual frames to create a sound painting.[3]
His early artwork explored painting, printmaking, photography, and music which led him to combine artistic discipline's and animate directly onto the filmstrip as a long and narrow canvas as 'sound painting' or visual music. His début animation 'Linear Dreams' was produced by drawing both the sound and picture directly onto the film.
Richard explores abstract animation as a visual music by drawing both sound and picture onto film. He has collaborated with artists for live performances involving dancing human projection screens, 16mm violin, interactive animation installations, online animation jams and large outdoor projections. He continues exploring film as a space time art form.
In the media
Reeves was the subject of the short documentary Instant Animation, which was directed by Ted Stenton and released in 2024.[4]
Filmography
'Story from the Stone'
1991 / 1 min. / 16mm,
inspired by pictographs at Writing on Stone Park, pastel on paper.
'Major ReBeouf's Lost and Found Film'
1992 / 3 min. / 16mm,
mythological story, created specially for “Return to Exceptional Pass”, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Banff.
'Garbanzo'
1993 / 2 min. / 16mm,
abstract colors and forms to original jazz music, painted directly on to film.
'Zig Zag'
1994 / 1 min. / 35mm,
zig zag pictures dance to zig zag sounds, etched directly on to one piece of film.
'Linear Dreams'
1997 / 7 min. 35mm,
images from the minds eye, music from the minds ear, sound and picture drawn on film.
'Sea Song'
1999 / 4 min. / 35mm,
an animated look into the sparkling ocean at night, sound and picture drawn on film.
'CFMDC trailer'
1999 / 30 sec. / 35mm,
a trailer for the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre made by
drawing both sound and picture directly onto motion picture film.
'1:1'
2001 / 2.5 min. / 35mm,
exploring the one-to-one relationship between sound and picture as visual music.
4 animators with 4 film projectors producing optical sound track to cameraless film at the National Arts Centre, Ottawa Canada.
'Element of Light'
2004 / 4.5 min. / 35mm,
inspired by the elements of nature.
'Aura'
2006 / 2.5min./ 35mm,
contemplation of aural and visual perceptions,
commissioned work for the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto.
'Yarwood Trail'
2009 / 4 min. / 35mm,
inspired by the artwork of Walter Yarwood, sound and picture drawn onto film.
commissioned work for the Toronto Animated Image Society commemorating the Painters 11.
‘Once Upon a Mountain’
2014 / 3min / 16mm,
based on true story of mountain climbing in the Canadian Rockies. animated watercolour paintings.
'Twilight'
2018 / 2 min. / 35mm, handmade optical sounds and drawing onto film.
inspired by the two lights (twi-light) found inside of film projectors.
'TV'
2018 / 2 min. / 35mm, handmade optical sounds and drawing onto film.
transformational vibrations: Inspirational mark making as a visual representation of handmade optical sounds.
'Four Elements of Change'
2019 / 5.5min. / 16mm cameraless and 16mm black+white hand processed film,
Four short films inspired by theme of climate change created for 'Shifting Ground', group exhibition at Langham Cultural Centre, Kaslo BC, Canada.
'Wood and Metal Bars'
2021 / 10 min./ 16mm cameraless.
a meditative journey through colour, form and sound. Music video created for chamber music composer Frank Horvat, performed by percussionist Beverly Johnston.
'Hot Flashes'
2022 / 16mm silent film / 1 min. / cameraless.
a silent flicker film with pulsating frames of red, pink and orange.
'Intersextion'
2022 / 4min. / 35mm, handmade optical sounds and drawing onto film.
two abstract energies fall in love, unite as one then disappear into a vanishing point.
'Fusion'
2024 / 3:18min. / 35mm, handmade optical sounds and drawing onto film.
Investigating interplay between sound and picture as visual music.
Collections
Collections of Film Prints:
National Library and Archives of Canada, Ottawa.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science Film Archive, Hollywood, USA.
1998 – 2nd Prize Experimental Film: World Animation Celebration, USA.
1997 – Best Canadian Short Film: Atlantic Film Festival, Canada.
1997 – Best Experimental Film: Sea to Sky Film Festival, Canada.
1997 – Best Animated Film: Victoria Independent Film Festival.
1997 – Best Animated Film: Alberta Motion Picture Industry Awards, Canada.
References
↑Basics Animation 03: Drawing for Animation. AVA Publishing. 2008-12-09. pp.157–9. ISBN9782940373703.
↑Robinson, Chris (2005). Unsung Heroes of Animation. JOHN LIBBEY & Company Limited. pp.113–. ISBN9780861966653. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
↑The Animation Bible: A Practical Guide to the Art of Animating from Flipbooks to Flash; Maureen Furniss Author
↑Volmers, Eric. "Calgary animation society festival celebrates past, future with 20th GIRAF Festival". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on 2024-11-09. Retrieved 2025-07-11.
Sources
The Animation Bible: Maureen Furniss: 2008: ISBN978-1-85669-550-3. pg.164-165, pg.176-179.https://www.amazon.com/dp/081099545X
The Film Strip Tells All: (Animation World Network); Dr. William Moritz, Animation Historian and Cal Arts Experimental Animation Instructor, https://www.awn.com/mag/issue3.6/3.6pages/3.6moritzfilms.html
