Nix

Nix

2013 · Animation

American cartoons are the starting point for Martin Arnold's new work. Sequences of short films form the basis of a process of fragmentation, deconstruction, dismantling and repetition. Arnold uses fun, family entertainment to create films with open-ended possibilities for association. His pieces, such as Hydra (2013), Charon (2013), Nix (2013) and Self Control (2011), feature characters whose anatomy is no longer recognizable as such, but rather resemble puppets, remotely controlled from the outside. Trembling hands, dancing tongues, blinking eyes and snoring mouths move like ghosts against an abyss-like deep black background, in which bodily elements constantly disappear, only to reappear once more.

Directed by Martin Arnold

Your Rating

Make it a double feature

Nix

20 Little Films

Both from Martin Arnold.

More from Martin ArnoldSee all →

Jeanne Marie Renée

Jeanne Marie Renée · 2002

Jeanne Marie Renée

A 12-hour installation piece comprising slowed-down footage of Renée Jeanne Falconetti in Carl Theodor Dreyer's 1928 film La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc.

20 Little Films

20 Little Films · 2012

20 Little Films

MovieDocumentary

Since 1995, the Viennale has invited renowned directors to create short, one-minute films as personal contributions to the festival. Ranging from home movies to political essays, musical sketches to abstract studies, these “little films” form a unique anthology of cinematic moments. 20 Little Films collects a selection of these works, premiering together for the Viennale’s 50th anniversary at the Locarno Film Festival.

Alone. Life Wastes Andy Hardy

Alone. Life Wastes Andy Hardy · 1998

Alone. Life Wastes Andy Hardy

MovieDramaMusic

In a deconstruction of classic Hollywood codes, using repetitive single frame images, the re-editing of teenager movies produces an intense Oedipal drama.

Passage à l'Acte

Passage à l'Acte · 1993

Passage à l'Acte

MovieDocumentary

An avant-garde sonic and visual re-editing of a short clip from the classic 1962 film "To Kill a Mockingbird".

Whistle Stop

Whistle Stop · 2014

MovieAnimationHorror

"It had to be me."

Charon

American cartoons are the starting point for Martin Arnold's new work. Sequences of short films form the basis of a process of fragmentation, deconstruction, dismantling and repetition. Arnold uses fun, family entertainment to create films with open-ended possibilities for association. His pieces, such as Hydra (2013), Charon (2013), Nix (2013) and Self Control (2011), feature characters whose anatomy is no longer recognizable as such, but rather resemble puppets, remotely controlled from the outside. Trembling hands, dancing tongues, blinking eyes and snoring mouths move like ghosts against an abyss-like deep black background, in which bodily elements constantly disappear, only to reappear once more.

Haunted House

Haunted House · 2011

MovieHorrorAnimation

Parts of Mickey Mouse floating in a Haunted House

Self Control

Self Control · 2011

Parts of a comic strip are animated.

Pièce touchée

Pièce touchée · 2026

Pièce touchée

MovieDocumentary

Arnold's source material is a piece of footage from the 1950s, eighteen seconds long and very typical for the period. A quiet take: A living room, a woman in an armchair. Her husband opens the door, kisses her, then moves out of the picture accompanied by a camera pan, his wife follows after him. In Arnold's film the sequence takes 16 minutes. Cadre by cadre, it becomes an exciting tango of movements. But Pièce Touchée is more than just a matter of forms; The reflections, distortions and delays it displays challenge cinema's stable system of space and time.

Psycho

Martin Arnold's remake of the shower scene from Psycho. Made as a spot for the Viennale.

In Tinseltown

In Tinseltown · 2020

color, sound, 2:14 loop, 2020

Elsewhere

Elsewhere · 2016

color, sound, 3:00 loop, 2016

Soft Palate

Soft Palate · 2011

Body parts of a cartoon character.

Black Holes

Black Holes · 2015

MovieHistoryAnimation

cel animation, repetition, and disappearance... color, sound, 5:20 loop, 2015

Blackout

Blackout · 2024

The term “blackout” originally comes from the theater world and refers to an abrupt switching off of the spotlights, which was either used as a dramaturgical effect to emphasize a punchline or simply helped when arranging a scene or changing the scenery. It’s no surprise that it was later adapted for the spaces of the so-called “Lichtspiele” (in German, a synonym for movie theatre). What does it mean when the background is no longer visible? What does a background erasure mean compared to a free-form select of the foreground? And is there a complete erasure of the background at all, or are traces always left behind that can at least be guessed at? – M.A.

Shadow Cuts

Shadow Cuts · 2010

In a later group of short film loops such as Soft Palate (2010) and Whistle Stop (2014), Arnold seems to discover psychoanalytic underbellies in the most popular form of post-war family entertainment, animation, and its most iconic characters such as Mickey Mouse (using two of Mickey's shorts, one of them Mickey's Delayed Date), Tom And Jerry, Daffy Duck (Draftee Daffy) and Goofy (How To Play Golf).

More Like This

Space Jam

Space Jam · 1996

MovieFamilyScience Fiction

With their freedom on the line, the Looney Tunes seek the help of NBA superstar Michael Jordan to win a basketball game against a team of moronic aliens.

Zootopia

Zootopia · 2016

MovieAnimationAdventure

Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on Zootopia's police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case - even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to solve the mystery.

Casper's Haunted Christmas

Casper's Haunted Christmas · 2000

Casper's Haunted Christmas

MovieAnimationFamily

Kibosh, supreme ruler of all ghosts, decrees that casper must scare at least one person before Christmas Day so Casper visits Kriss, Massachusetts where he meets the Jollimore family and sets out to complete his mission. As usual, kindhearted Casper has a ghastky time trying to scare anyone; so The Ghostly Trio, fed up with his goody-boo-shoes behavior, secretly hires Casper's look-alike cousin Spooky to do the job-with hilarious results.

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker · 2000

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

MovieAnimationAction

The Joker is back with a vengeance, and Neo-Gotham's Dark Knight, Terry McGinnis, needs answers as he stands alone to face the old Gotham's most infamous Clown Prince of Crime.

Cinderella III: A Twist in Time

Cinderella III: A Twist in Time · 2007

Cinderella III: A Twist in Time

MovieAnimationRomance

When Lady Tremaine steals the Fairy Godmother's wand and changes history, it's up to Cinderella to restore the timeline and reclaim her prince.

A Goofy Movie

A Goofy Movie · 1995

MovieAdventureComedy

Goofy’s teenage son Max is desperate to impress his crush and fit in at school. After well-meaning but ignorant Goofy suddenly whisks him away on a cross-country road trip—messing up Max’s first date plans in the process—Goofy’s old-school parenting and Max’s desire for independence lead to a vacation of hilarious mishaps, as they both learn to see eye to eye and listen to each other.

Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero

Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero · 1998

Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero

MovieAnimationAction

When Mr. Freeze kidnaps Barbara Gordon, as an involuntary organ donor to save his dying wife, Batman and Robin must find her before the operation can begin.

Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo

Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo · 2004

Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo

MovieAdventureAnimation

Spring has sprung, and baby Roo is excited to get out and explore and make new friends. But Rabbit seems preoccupied with spring cleaning, instead of embracing his usual role of playing Easter Bunny. Leave it to Roo to show Rabbit -- through love -- that it's more important who you love and not who's in charge.

Return to Never Land

Return to Never Land · 2002

Return to Never Land

MovieAdventureFantasy

In 1940, the world is besieged by World War II. Wendy, all grown up, has two children; including Jane, who does not believe Wendy's stories about Peter Pan.

Doug's 1st Movie

Doug's 1st Movie · 1999

Doug's 1st Movie

MovieAnimationFamily

Doug and his pal Skeeter set's out to find the monster of Lucky Duck Lake. Though things get really out of hand when some one blurts out that the monster is real.

Hell's Bells

Hell's Bells · 1929

MovieAnimationHorror

The demons of hell play music for Satan, whose delight turns to wrath when an insubordinate refuses to become food for Cerberus.

Asterix and the Vikings

Asterix and the Vikings · 2006

Asterix and the Vikings

MovieFamilyAnimation

Asterix and Obelix have been given a tough mission: Transform the chief's lazy nephew Justforkix into a warrior. When the Vikings abduct him and bring him back to their homeland, Asterix and Obelix must travel to Norway to rescue Justforkix.

Asterix in Britain

Asterix in Britain · 1986

Asterix in Britain

MovieFamilyAnimation

One little ancient British village still holds out against the Roman invaders. Asterix and Obelix are invited to help. They must face fog, rain, warm beer and boiled boar with mint sauce, but they soon have Governor Encyclopaedius Britannicus's Romans declining and falling. Until a wild race for a barrel of magic potion lands them in the drink.

Asterix Conquers America

Asterix Conquers America · 1994

Asterix Conquers America

MovieFamilyAnimation

When marauding Romans capture - and catapult - their pal Getafix into lands unknown, the shrewd and cunning Asterix and his able sidekick Obelix spring into action! But their journey leads them to a strange and dangerous new world, where they must face a tribe of Indians, a stampeding herd of buffalo and a medicine man with designs on their magic potion!

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter