Co Hoedeman was a brilliant animator who joined the NFB in Canada, and was a master at stop-motion animation. He had a way of making his film clear and colorful enough that a child could comprehend it, yet so original that an adult could enjoy it as well. His characters were attractive to the viewers as well, having a way of being recognizable, as block children would remind one of his or her childhood. Hoedeman's films were filled with familiar story, parable, and intellectual depth. One film in particular called "Tchou-tchou" actually featured the block children I mentioned earlier. The setting is a child's building block world, full of little block children. They seem happy at first, perhaps because they are one with the world as they are both made with blocks. Then all of a sudden, when the boy does a flip, a dragon appears and ends up destroying their little game. It happens again and the children this time hide and build a fortress. The dragon won't go away, however, and the kids have to get creative. They finally see the dragon as a train, and build it into one, turning threat into a toy. This film is more than just a simple story of Genesis. Hoedeman doesn't try to copy the garden, but rather creates his own world, and inviting the audience to participate in it.
I could totally relate to this film as the entire thing was simply a giant world of building blocks. I loved blocks as a kid. I could be free to create anything I wanted! Knowing the account of creation also helped in understanding the film and making those certain connections between the dragon and the devil. I loved it too when they turned the dragon into a train. For me, I always want to try and make good come out of anything, and whatever the enemy means for bad, God can turn it into good!
-Clint Sprunger, November 6
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