Winnipeg filmmaker Alain Delannoy currently teaches a multimedia course at the Universite de Saint-Boniface, but for the last 17 years has been churning out mind-bending, beautifully organic animation. This retrospective of his work includes early student films, one mockumentary and a pair of recent heavy hitters in Monument and Fraction, both films that took years to create involving thousands of drawings.

Here’s the rundown of what you’ll see Friday night:

Jack in the Box
Hand drawn animation, 1993

One of Delannoy’s early student films from the University of Manitoba, it’s a short that starts out for the kids and gets pretty dark pretty quick (hey, it’s barely a minute and a half, you’ve gotta cram in a story ASAP). The artist’s style was evident from the beginning - the raw pencil strokes remain throughout his body of work.

Blue Noise
Hand drawn animation/live action, 1995

A meditative abstract piece that blends subtle nudity with frustrated scribbling and repetition, this “video” meanders and swirls, prepping you for the work that is to come. Consider it the lo-fi basement recording prior to the major label debut.

Gravity!
Computer animation, 1996

An early computer animation (hey, look at the circles!) that continues the dark sense of humour that Delannoy has for his subjects. The Jack in the Box clown is resurrected for another adventure, and though the viewer can guess where it’s going, it’s a fun ride getting there.

Shuttle - Navette
Hand drawn/computer animation, 1997/2005

This film is the window into the soul of a young boy, one could almost call it the first in the trilogy that concludes with Monument and Fraction, it blends the beautiful hand drawn dreams with some computer swirls, culminating in a pretty trippy experience.

Champion of the World
Live action, 2000

This mockumentary doesn’t hint that it is one right off the hop, though its subject is a little “acty,” it isn’t until the film begins to openly mock Shad, a 28-year-old who wants to be the world champion of wrestling. Tackling his issues with his mother, bulking up, potential girlfriends, and becoming The Raven, the film truly encapsulates the absurdity of professional wrestling at the time, which saw The Rock making music videos with Wyclef Jean.

Monument
Hand drawn animation, 2006

This mostly black and white film about a young man coming full circle with his destiny progresses into beautifully layered colour, which is intricately delivered over 4000 hand-drawn images.

Fraction
2012

Fraction is Delannoy’s most fleshed out work to date. Keeping with the themes of frustration, uncertainty and growth, it is the natural progression of the animator’s work that shows an artist battling to finish what he’s started.