My Dog Tulip (2009)

Judy and I loved this charming animated feature about a curmudgeon and his "bitch," a German shepherd named Tulip. It's suitable for anyone old enough to know the basics of mating, as the last third is devoted to Tulip's sex life. Christopher Plummer voices the English author J.R. Ackerly, who wrote the book on which the movie is based, with supreme detachment and intellectualism (I chose my favorites of Plummer's work when I wrote about The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus). Isabella Rossellini and Lynn Redgrave (1943-2010) have supporting roles as the voices of the veterinarian and Ackerly's sister, respectively. The Brits refer to German Shepherds as Alsatians--David was bitten by one when he was a child and never trusted the breed after that. In fact, unless you already love one, you are unlikely to want to adopt one after watching the antics of the incorrigible Tulip. Directed, written, and animated by Paul and Sandra Fierlinger and edited by Paul, the drawing is somewhat Thurber-like, especially a section in the middle, which has a signature of Solomon Pavel, as I recall (I haven't found anything to explain why). Tulip barks a lot and is occasionally anthropomorphized, including in this clip about social vs. necessary urination.

The music by John Avarese is quite wonderful. You can see the trailer and read about everyone, as well as the "paperless" computer technology, in the press kit, to be found in the DOWNLOADS section (lower left) of the official site. Once you've caught up on this year's potential Oscar nominees, check this one out. You'll be glad you did.