Goin’ Cuckoo is the latest cartoon from Rick Dolishny. As director/animator/producer, Dolishny’s challenge was to write an enchanting story, and specifically design a procedure to output the computer-generated images to 35mm film rather than video.

Until now, independent computer animators on a low budget were limited to video as their primary output destination. Cinematographer Ian Parker and the director are finishing the custom-built computer animation stand created specifically for this project. Independent computer animators can finally realize their dream of going to film!

Goin’ Cuckoo is a seven-minute cartoon about a cuckoo clock bird determined to fly south for the winter. Unfortunately, he doesn’t realize that wooden birds can’t fly. He attempts bungee jumping, hot air ballooning, and other ambitious techniques with little success. In the end, imagination and an enduring spirit get the cuckoo bird where he wants to be.

Dolishny is feverishly rendering the final frames while local musician Tuncer Turkeli is busy crafting the wild sound track to meet the July 15 entry deadline for the Ottawa Animation Festival.

Financial assistance was provided in part by the Canada Council Explorations Program.

Production assistance came from Mississauga-based Ardee Productions Computer Anima-tion.