I Met the Walrus

I Met the Walrus is an animated short film produced in Canada which was released in 2007. This intriguing film combines animation with recordings of an interview conducted in 1969. It's an extraordinary piece that utilizes a largely minimalist design, which would seem more commonplace in music videos than in big-budget cinematic productions. Impeccably directed by filmmaker Josh Raskin, I Met the Walrus is a captivating dive into a fascinating piece of rock and roll history that tells a story with a sense of lively originality.

The title alone serves as the first insight into the film. The context of the titular walrus is a direct reference to the Beatles' iconic song, "I Am the Walrus," penned by John Lennon, who appears posthumously as one of two 'stars' of the film. The other ‘star’ in the film is Jerry Levitan, a Beatles superfan who bluffed his way into an interview with John Lennon when John and Yoko Ono were in Toronto for their Bed-In for Peace in 1969. The audio from Levitan's 40-minute encounter with Lennon has stood the test of time, but it's the innovative animation that serves as the primary talking point for I Met the Walrus, which brings more colour and depth to the words exchanged between Lennon and Levitan.

The animation itself is a striking affair. I Met the Walrus is an adventurous and visually eclectic film that smoothly fuses traditional animation techniques and digital wizardry to craft an ever-evolving landscape of images that wiggle, transform, and explode across the screen. Yet, despite the seemingly chaotic aesthetic, there is an intrinsic harmony to the visuals that keep the viewer hooked to the screen. The animation's effervescent style is the work of artists James Braithwaite and Alex Kurina, whose efforts helped the film earn a nomination for Best Animated Short at the 80th Academy Awards.

One of the film's biggest strengths lies in its management of time. Despite the short runtime, I Met the Walrus doesn't rush the narrative. Rather, it allows Lennon's wisdom and humor to shine, as Levitan plays his part as the tentative but fascinated interviewer. Their back-and-forth feels both enlightening and absurd, straddling the line between an impromptu philosophy lecture and a quirky hangout session.

The topics during the interview range from the nature of violence in society to the Beatles' influence on the peace movement. John Lennon’s answers and perspectives are a revelation, demonstrating his profound thoughts. The Beatles' music had indeed been a symbol of peace and freedom that transcended borders and nationalities. Still, listening to Lennon's in-depth talk about these subjects adds a whole new depth of understanding regarding who he was beyond his music.

At the end of the day, I Met the Walrus is an unconventional journey into the past, painted in vivid colours and experimental animation. It's an ode to leaders of the past, commemorating their spirit and wisdom through the modern retelling of a real-life, personal moment shared between a megastar and an ordinary fan. It offers a front seat to history through the eyes of a do-it-yourself journalist of 14 years, dream-like animation sequences, and a superb narration comprising wisdom, humor, and rock and roll.

As the film ends, you're left with a feeling of bittersweet nostalgia, of having witnessed a snippet of history through a surreal and seriously fun animated lens. I Met the Walrus is the ultimate short film experience that not only serves as a testament to John Lennon's legacy but also as a beautiful exploration of the power of animation in storytelling. It's less about the minute details, and more about capturing a mood, a moment, and a man, all of which it does with flair and fabulous imagination.