Bill Plympton’s Cheatin’ screens tonight only at the Royal Cinema in Toronto

By John Corrado

The latest from acclaimed animator Bill Plympton, levelFILM is hosting a special one night only screening of Cheatin’ tonight at the Royal Cinema in Toronto.  The film starts at 9:30 PM, and more information can be found right here.

Free of dialogue, Cheatin’ recounts the whirlwind romance between Ella and Jake, two animated creations who meet at a bumper car track, and how their relationship changes when one finds out that the other is cheating on them.

I enjoyed this one.  The story is simple but captivating, proving that animation can be just as valid and mature as any other filmmaking technique.  And if the film runs a little long at 76 minutes, the visuals of Cheatin’ are always engaging to watch.

The detailed and highly stylized images are impressive throughout, even more so because they are completely drawn by hand, with captivating sequences that range from delightfully cartoony to emotionally expressive, often taking turns into imaginative fantasy.  Nominated for three Annie Awards, including Best Animated Feature, animation enthusiasts are going to want to check this one out, and tonight’s the perfect opportunity for Toronto audiences to do just that.