Now Norman McLaren is actually a Scotsman with close connections to Canada, but when it was the year 1939 and World War II began, then apparently he did not hesitate in telling the world who he solidarizes with. This movie only runs for slightly over 2 minutes, but mostly includes the colors red, white and blue because of the American flag. And the animation here is pretty bold and great fun to watch. I generally do not like experimental films, but he did a pretty good job here I must admit. My favorite part was probably the short scene with the sperm and the egg. I am not sure what it was supposed to symbolize, but I guess it may have been a reference to Americans being fruitful and that they should keep procreating despite these dark days in terms of global political climate. Overall, a pretty good watch, one of McLaren's best because of the historic context. I recommend it.

This is an art film from the collection entitled "Unseen Cinema: Early American Avant-Garde Film 1894-1941"--a group of artsy shorts that would probably hold little interest to the average viewer.This is a short from Norman McLaren showing his love of America--though he apparently later loved Canada even more and soon immigrated there (he was originally from the UK). While the title is "Stars and Stripes Forever", this is NOT the tune that is used. Whatever the tune is, it's set to carious patriotic images that were all hand-drawn onto blank film stock and color was added later. Well done for what it is, but a film I really cannot give a numerical score--it's just too odd and experimental.

One would be forgiven for mistaking 'Stars and Stripes (1939)' as the work of a patriotic American. Norman McLaren, a Scottish-born animator, moved to America in 1939 – on the cusp of WWII – and produced this three-minute animated film as a appreciative tribute to his host country (McLaren would move to Canada, where he achieved his greatest success, two years later). Is 'Stars and Stripes,' perhaps, a subtle call-to-arms for the then- neutral United States? McLaren uses John Philip Sousa's famous military march "Star and Stripes Forever" to set the tone. Stars, stripes and other symbols dart around each other, as though assembling for duty. I spotted the Star of David in there; an ode to America's admirable cultural diversity? McLaren – like Brakhage, eschewing use of a camera – drew pen- and-ink shapes directly onto 35mm film, and the brilliant, radiant colours were added later in the process.