School Disco (1999)
Simple animation doesn't detract from the well-observed material
3 January 2004
On the day of the school disco, the teacher approves the musical choices to be played by the DJ's and all the pupils start to arrive. Very quickly the social order is set and the students start to clique up in various corners or start to dance in their groups.

This short is rather crudely animated but not in a very basic fashion, just in the manner of an art student's first ever short film! The plot summary may not point to much potential and if I had to say what actually happened in the film, I'd be at a bit of a loss! However the material is well written to observe the real situation at so many school discos. I was listening out for sharply written dialogue and there wasn't any, but the characters and situations are well enough written that it speaks louder than words would have done.

The film sees the bullyboys gang together in the corner, with the smallest of the group doing the most talking to try and fit in. The ugly girl is the first one to get breasts and attracts all the attention; a girl fancies a boy who has no interest in girls at all, never mind her specifically! Meanwhile the teacher approved music rings out in the sports hall with most students hanging around the sides rather than just going wild. Having been to my fair share of these type of school discos, I loved this short as it got it bang on the money! The moment where the disco ends by the teacher turning on all the lights was funny as were the seconds of silence where records were switched over (mine was not a very fancy school!).

Overall this short was stunningly animated or have great writing, but if you went to school discos in secondary school in the UK then you will get a kick out of seeing much that you are now able to look back and recognise - you might even feel a little embarrassed to see yourself!
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