John Whitney Sr.

Birth : 1917-04-08, Pasadena, California, USA.

Death : 1995-09-22

History

John Whitney, Sr. (April 8, 1917—September 22, 1995) was an American animator, composer and inventor, widely considered to be one of the 'fathers' of computer animation.

Movies

Abstract Cinema
Several well-known and pioneering abstract filmmakers discuss the history of non-objective cinema, the works of those that came before them and their own experiments in the field of visionary filmmaking.
A Personal Search For the Complementarity of Music and Visual Art
Director
A Personal Search For the Complementarity of Music and Visual Art (1992) uses the concept of complementarity to make sense of the confusion that existed between fine art and technology in the late 20th century.
Arabesque
Director
John Whitney's pioneering work of computer animation, Arabesque, from 1975. This flowing, abstract short film is a wonder to behold, a work of art. Like many other computer graphics pioneers, this film suggests roots in psychedelics and spiritual quests as much as engineering and mathematics.
Hex Demo
Director
A silent black and white computer graphic short film specially made to accompany John H. Whitney's Lecture on Digital Harmony at Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada, in 1973.
Matrix III
Director
An abstract computer-generated animation set to music by Terry Riley.
Matrix
Director
A piece of abstract cinema by John Whitney. A series squares follow a 3-dimensional track, each one with a slight delay after the other.
Osaka 1-2-3
Director
Experiments in Motion Graphics
Himself
John H. Whitney Sr. explains the graphic art potential of the computer and the methods and philosophy involved in his computer filmmaking.
Experiments in Motion Graphics
Producer
John H. Whitney Sr. explains the graphic art potential of the computer and the methods and philosophy involved in his computer filmmaking.
Experiments in Motion Graphics
Director
John H. Whitney Sr. explains the graphic art potential of the computer and the methods and philosophy involved in his computer filmmaking.
Permutations
Director
An experimental short film by John Whitney Sr. which combines animated shapes and colors; Computer graphics as dynamic, swirling art.
Catalog
Director
Collection of Computer Graphic effects.
Blues Pattern
Director
The Performing Painter
Director
Directed by John Whitney.
Mozart Rondo
Director
Short film by John Whitney.
Hot House
Director
Short film by John Whitney.
Celery Stalks at Midnight
Director
Early 'visual music' film by John Whitney.
Five Film Exercises: Film 5
Director
Opens with a short canonical statement of a theme upon which the entire film is constructed. The canon is repeated in contrasting variations by means of color. A second section poses the same image in deep film space. The image unfolds itself repeatedly, leaving the receding image to continue on smaller and smaller.
Five Film Exercises: Film 4
Director
The entire film is divided into four consecutive chosen approaches—the fourth section devoted to a reiteration and extension of the original material.
Five Film Exercises: Film 2-3
Director
Two short fragments resulting from experiments in controlling the mechanical development of the instrument.
Five Film Exercises: Film 1
Director
Begins with a three beat announcement drawn out in time which thereafter serves as a figure to divide the four sections. Each return of this figure is more condensed, and finally used in reverse to conclude the film.
24 Variations on a Theme
Director
First film by the Whitney brothers.
The Film Art of John Whitney, Sr.
Himself
John Whitney, Sr. one of the early pioneers in films made by computer-driven cameras explains and demonstrates his work. Shot on location at Whitney's home in California, includes excerpts from his films "Matrix 3", "Catalog", "Permutations" and "Lapis." 1975. Making abstract motion in time, and impinging directly on the viewer's emotions as music does -- these were among Whitney's early goals. "Music organizes time in a special way, creates tension in us, then satisfies, gratifies. We can do the same for patterns-- something is going to happen, make it happen in a way you don't expect. Film permutations can be parallel to tones in harmonic sequence; dominant chord resolves into tonic chord." To do this, says Whitney, "we need new tools, and to learn how to control them. They're unlike musical instruments which we have been practicing on for 300 years. We have to start from scratch. " - Stephan Chodorov, Writer.
Mahzel
Director
(ca.1949, 16mm, b/w, sound, 3min.)
Moon Drum
Director
Moon Drum offers an impressionistic evocation of the mood, color and feel of native American art created by computer graphics.