John Canemaker

John Canemaker has chosen Hands as the subject for his next short film. Adapted from a story in Sherwood Anderson’s literary masterpiece Winesburg, Ohio, Hands concerns an eccentric, isolated individual named Wing Biddlebaum. A figure of puzzlement and derision among the Winesburg townfolk, Biddlebaum’s anxious personality expresses itself through the restless activity of his hands—likened by Anderson to “the beatings of the wings of an imprisoned bird.” The strong narrative thrust of Hands lends itself to rich visual development. In Canemaker’s own talented hands, the film will illuminate a classic American—and Ohio—story, and underscore its continued significance for contemporary audiences.

Canemaker is one of the leading figures in American animation and an Oscar-winning animator of profoundly original and personal films. His numerous works on the medium's history include Winsor McCay: His Life and Art and Walt Disney's Nine Old Men and the Art of Animation, and he is credited with establishing that Otto Messmer (not Pat Sullivan) is the true creator of the iconic Felix the Cat character. His animation has been included in such films and TV series as The World According to Garp and in episodes of Pee Wee's Playhouse. Canemaker has visited the Wexner Center to discuss the work of Winsor McCay and to introduce a selection of his short films. He will visit the Wexner Center on October 13 as part of Cartoon Crossroads Columbus for a discussion on McCay’s Little Nemo.