A spirited young woman persuades a hyena from London Zoo to take her place at a dreaded dinner dance being held in her honour. Their plan requires a surprising amount of artistry and violence.

THE DEBUTANTE is based on a short story written by the artist Leonora Carrington, who was presented at the court of King George V and herself became a debutante in 1936. Elizabeth Hobbs celebrates Carrington’s bold and funny story with ink, paint and collage, accompanied by a score by composer Hutch Demouilpied.

Directed by: Elizabeth Hobbs

Written by: Elizabeth Hobbs

Produced by: Abigail Addison

Editing: Mark Jenkins

Animation: Elizabeth Hobbs

Sound: Hutch Demouilpied, Rory Hunter, Eugénie Dunster

Original Score: Hutch Demouilpied

Cast: Alexa Davies, Naomi Stafford, Joanna David

Original Title: THE DEBUTANTE

Film Production Country: United Kingdom

Website: https://animateprojects.org/portfolio/the-debutante/

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/HobbsLizzyHobbs https://www.facebook.com/AnimateProjects/
https://www.instagram.com/hobbslizzy/ https://www.instagram.com/animateprojectsuk/
https://twitter.com/AnimateProjects
Statement of the Director/s
'The Debutante' is a brilliant, funny and wild story written by the artist Leonora Carrington in the late 1930s. She wrote the story while she was living in exile in France and chose to write in French, her second language, a decision which contributed to the direct language and eccentric dialogue. I was drawn to this story because I understand Carrington’s urgent rebellion and admire how succinctly she expresses it. I love the tension between the society dining room and her place of escape, London Zoo. The film is animated with ink and paint on paper, with some collage and cut-out animation, captured under a rostrum camera. I’ve also used rotoscoping to summon up the glamour of the 1930s, which is when the story is set. The film is my tribute to an extraordinary artist, who’s courage, feminism and connection to the natural world are an inspiration to us even now.
Elizabeth Hobbs, January 2022

Biography of the Director/s
Elizabeth Hobbs is a London based artist working with animation. Her films are created under a rostrum camera, and are made with many different techniques and materials; ink on bathroom tiles, typewriters, watercolour on paper, butterfly prints and rubber stamps. The films are experimental but with a clear narrative, often based on unusual and overlooked historical stories and figures. In 2019, she received a BAFTA British Short Animation nomination for I’m OK, and in 2020, she was invited to become a member of the Short Films and Feature Animation branch of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Elizabeth enjoys sharing her practice through lecturing, workshops, and collaboration.

Filmography of the Director/s
2019 - THE FLOUNDER
2018 - I’M OK
2016 - G-AAAH
2013 - IMPERIAL PROVISOR FROMBALD
2010 - LITTLE SKIPPER
2007 - THE OLD, OLD, VERY OLD MAN, Animation
2005 - THE TRUE STORY OF SAWNEY BEANE, Animation
2002 - THE WITCHES, Animation
Animation - THE EMPEROR
1999 - THE LAST REGRET OF THE GRIM REAPER, Animation

Production Company:
Animate Projects
Abigail Addison
Phone: +447789686903
Website: https://animateprojects.org/