Ryan (2004) Director Chris Landreth

Ryan (2004) Director Chris Landreth

A gentleman panhandler. One of the pioneers of Canadian animation. Oscar nominee. Poor beggar. An artist unable to create. God observing the world. Fallen angel. Arrogant. Shy. Broken. Not destroyed. Ryan hovers between animation and documentary, and defies easy definition. Ryan Larkin who produced some of the most influential animated films of his time today lives on welfare and panhandles in Montreal. How could such an artistic genius follow this path?


Ryan brings to life the story of Canadian animator Ryan Larkin, who produced some of the most influential animated films of the early 1970s. In this Oscar winning short film, celebrated director Chris Landreth uses a hand-animated, three dimensional technique he calls "psychological realism" to tell Ryan's story. Today, Ryan Larkin lives on welfare and panhandles for spare change in downtown Montreal, Canada. This film explores Ryan's early works and asks how an artistic genius could follow such an unfortunate path.


Stars: Ryan Larkin, Chris Landreth
Other Stars: Derek Lamb, Felicity Fanjoy, Laurence Green
Director: Chris Landreth, Laurence Green, Ryan Larkin
Music by: Fergus Marsh, Michael White
Edited by: Alan Code
Genre: animation