The evolution of Canadian animation is a strange and mystical one. Through the numerous ventures of Mclaren’s experimental think pieces, to the NFB’s bizzare passion projects, the lengthy story of Canada’s adaption of the mis-underrepresented medium is an important and vulnerable piece of Canadian heritage. Now it’s 2019, and the current state of Canadian Animation is neutral. The film board is still funding, and the tax credit continues to pay international film projects to shoot in our quaint lil’ country.
Out of the blue, Racetime comes along. Nobody notices the film at first, and I have to admit that I wasn’t all that interested in seeing it to begin with. For starters, I wasn’t a fan of the original film Snowtime, which was a convoluted kid’s flick that failed to hit any of the emotional beats it needed too, with an exception of it’s wild finale and morals. However, I consider myself a forgiving person when it comes to franchises, so, I reluctantly purchased a matinee ticket for Racetime, in hopes that it was going to be something different, something out of left field that may change my view on Canadian children-oriented animated feature length productions.
Alas, I left the auditorium, satisfied, yet still concerned of the current state of children’s entertainment. Racetime is harmless. It’s a cute, poorly dubbed, stiltedly animated, robotically performed misfire, that’s all put together in an adequate fashion due to the film’s Canadian sensibilities. The film is theoretically bad, and nearly incompetent for mainstream animated production standards. However, the main saving grace of this film is it’s distinct Canadian attitude towards life. If this film was made anywhere else around the globe, it wouldn’t have worked nearly well as it did here, due to the current over apologetic culture we’re accustomed too as Canadians. Racetime understands the love of Canadian culture, either if it were terms of relationships or plain standardized customs. The sight of luge, hockey, and fresh winter romances speaks volumes in terms of nostalgia.
One may argue that Racetime could be considered as Nostalgia bate. But in the end of the day, I believe the nostalgia is what enhances the film. From it’s very inception, the first ever feature length animated Canadian production was one about winter life in Canada. This film, which I expect not many of you to know, is The Enchanted Village, a film which I would personally highly recommend for all cell-animation fanatics.
Cinema is what gathers community, and what better way to celebrate art, by reminiscing about our very culture. Without nostalgia, without Canadian customs, Racetime would have been a worthless waste of time. Yet, the product which we have now, not only serves as a testament to adolescent life in Quebec, but more so as a time capsule for child-like nostalgia. Is Racetime a good film? No, obviously not. However, for any Canadian family, who is searching for a family friendly pass time, this film should do the trick.
Racetime Is Now Playing In Canadian Cinemas Nationwide
On The Clock 