Britannia (1993)
The history of empire. A British bulldog answers his mistress's call. He tacks down the Union Jack to cover the British Isles, then begins playing with a small ball that's the world. At first it's innocent play. The dog discovers tea in India; then, the dog shakes gold out of Africa. Gradually, innocence gives way to more and more ferocious play with the ball. We see terrorized women and children as the dog becomes an enslaving potentate. Harmless English archetypes benefit from colonial riches. Then the world begins to grow, and the dog changes too, from bulldog to effete lap dog.
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Surprisingly incoherent and boring
The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
This short is an excellently animated look at the history of the British rise and decline as a colonial power, using a bulldog as the symbol of that rise and subsequent recession. Remarkable use of black and white versus color makes this even more noteworthy. Joanna Quinn has a nice touch with things. Her short Famous Fred is 180 degrees from Britannia and shows some breadth as well as depth to her work. This one was nominated for a BAFTA and deservedly so. It's available on Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation Vol. 3, if I recall the number correctly and the tape as a whole is worthy of your attention. Well worth watching. Most highly recommended.