Making Movie History: Co Hoedeman

An undisputed master of puppet animation, Co Hoedeman would captivate TV audiences with The Sand Castle (1977), a film that went on to win an Oscar for Best Animated Short. He had emigrated from Holland in 1965, aged, 25, in the hopes of finding work at the NFB. Canada's public film producer would become his creative base. Experimenting with an astounding range of techniques--paper cut-outs, papier-mâché, sand, and an array of puppets--Hoedeman conjures up fantastic worlds, finding inspiration in Inuit legend, ecology and his own vivid imagination. Artisan animator par excellence, he crafts all elements himself and operates his own camera. A devoted father and grandfather, he excels in making films for young audiences, and his Ludovic series, featuring an adventurous and amiable teddy bear, was a hit with children of all ages.