+ Introduction by Susie Evans

Fashion in Film presents a special children’s programme showcasing the harmonious collaboration between humans and non-human species, while celebrating the power of animation to bring the impossible to life. Across the history of cinema, children’s animated films have conveyed profound wisdom by exploring the cooperation of human and non-human species and contemplating the uncertain boundary where the body ends and nature begins. From the delicate silhouettes in Lotte Reiniger’s Thumbelina and the resourceful tiny mammal in How the Mole Got His Trousers to the vibrant and sensuous biodiversity celebrated in Idodo and The Butterfly, these films remind us that adornment is not the sole preserve of humankind. Felix the Cat’s slapstick antics in Comicalamities and the witty animal world of A is for Ant bring a touch of hilarity to themes of metamorphosis, empathy and adaptation. Together, these stories celebrate dress as both a wondrous and profoundly strange language concocted by nature and human creativity alike.

Susie Evans is a film curator based in London. At the Barbican, she currently curates the Family Film Club programme, a series of weekly screenings aimed at young audiences. She has a passion for creating engaging cinematic experiences that introduce children and families to the magic of film. Her work often highlights diverse storytelling and underrepresented voices to inspire curiosity and imagination in young viewers.

A is for Ant
UK, 2024. Dir. Jack Davison in collaboration with Shona Heath, 10min
Combining sculptural costumes with live-action performances, cameos by animals, and experimental film effects, photographer Jack Davison and costume and set designer Shona Heath reimagine letters as representations of animals and insects. By distorting scale and magnifying bodily presence, their disarmingly eccentric zoo alphabet temporarily places humans and animals on a level playing field. Can you tell who is who?

Felix the Cat: Comicalamities
USA, 1928. Dir. Otto Messmer and Pat Sullivan, 8min
In this silent cartoon, Felix endeavours to transform a ‘homely dame’ into a glamorous Hollywood starlet, using nature’s treasures. As an underwater appointment with the Mother of Pearl and a subsequent hunt for a fur coat both turn hazardous, Felix is forced to rely on the animator’s hand to get him out of trouble.

How the Mole Got His Trousers (Jak krtek ke kalhotkám přišel)
Czechia, 1957. Dir. Zdeněk Miler, 12min
The much-beloved character Krteček was conceived as the protagonist in this first-ever episode, which illustrates the making of trousers – a child-friendly, step-by-step guide to linen textile production. Completed in 1957, the film received critical acclaim, winning two Golden Lions at the Venice Film Festival. Since then, the resourceful Little Mole has become an iconic character worldwide, promoting friendship and cooperation between species.

Idodo
USA/Papua New Guinea/Switzerland, 2021. Dir.Ursula Ulmi, 10min
How did reef fish acquire their beautiful colours? Based on an ancestral legend by a local clan of Papua New Guinea, Ursula Ulmi’s animation presents an unexpected reversal of the usual narrative in which humans borrow their garb from nature. Created in collaboration with local Papuan filmmakers, artists, performers, and musicians, Idodo is a poetic exploration of bodily decoration as an art form that holds both cultural and natural significance.

The Butterfly
Russia, 1972. Dir. Andrey Khrzhanovsky, 10min
A city boy becomes entranced by a butterfly and the beguiling creature leads him away from his technological world into the mesmerising and untamed realm of nature. Evoking the butterfly as a timeless symbol of metamorphosis, this intricately crafted animation brings a touch of mysticism to depicting the boy’s physical and spiritual transformation.

Thumbelina
UK, 1955. Dir. Lotte Reiniger, 10min
This enchanting silhouette animation brings Hans Christian Andersen’s tale to life with exquisite detail. Nature plays a pivotal role in Thumbelina’s adventures, while her delicate dress and adornments reflect her fragility and connection to the natural world.

Presented with support from Dana and Michal Malý and the Czech Centre London.

GROUNDED: Fashion’s Entanglements with Nature: South West England & Scotland
Friday 5 September—Saturday 25 Oct 2025

Fashion in Film Festival presents GROUNDED, a major UK-wide season exploring the relationship between fashion and nature through the lens of cinema. Spanning the late 19th century to present day, the programme examines fashion’s role as simultaneously a barrier and a connecting tissue between humans and the natural world. With over 80 titles including rare screenings and UK premieres, GROUNDED presents diverse narratives addressing ecological and geopolitical concerns while exploring imaginative spaces of poetry, comedy, beauty, joy, horror, and transgression.

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Relaxed Screenings

We also host relaxed screenings for people who might benefit from a more relaxed environment, screened at a lower volume, the lights will remain at a low level throughout and you are welcome to move about in the space and come and go as you please.

There will be a dedicated breakout space for those who need it. Our Box Office team will help you locate this on the day of the screening.

For those that wish to make their experience more comfortable, Ear defenders can be borrowed from Box Office.

You can also select your seat when booking.

Venue: Studio 74, Exeter Phoenix

*Subject to a £1.50 ticketing system charge. We don’t charge this to make a profit. Find out more >>