In 2012, Don Hertzfeldt seamlessly edited his groundbreaking short film trilogy about a troubled man named Bill into a new animated feature film. Six years in the making, the completed picture was captured entirely in-camera on a 35mm rostrum animation stand. Built in the 1940s and used by Hertzfeldt on every project since 1999, it was one of the last surviving cameras of its kind still operating in the world, indispensable in the creation of the story's unique visual effects and images. "It's Such a Beautiful Day" painstakingly blends traditional hand-drawn animation, experimental optical effects, trick photography, and new digital hybrids printed out one frame at a time.
The film's signature "split screen" effect was achieved by photographing the animation through tiny holes placed beneath the camera lens, with each element in the film frame individually composited through careful multiple exposures.
Towards the end of production, the old camera's motor finally began to die and could no longer advance the film properly, riddling the final reels with unintentional light leaks.
Upon its original release in 2012, "It's Such a Beautiful Day" was listed by many film critics as one of the best films of the year. The L.A. Film Critics Association named it runner-up for Best Animated Film.
In 2014, Time Out New York ranked it #16 on its list of the "100 Best Animated Movies Ever Made."
In 2016, The Film Stage's critics ranked the film #1 on their list of "The 50 Best Animated Films of the 21st Century Thus Far."
In 2019, The Wrap named "It's Such a Beautiful Day" the #1 "Best Animated Film of the 2010s." The same year, Vulture's film critics ranked it #12 on their overall list of the "Best Movies of the Decade."
In 2021, IGN's CineFix placed it #1 on their "Top 10 Animated Films of All Time" list.
The film's signature "split screen" effect was achieved by photographing the animation through tiny holes placed beneath the camera lens, with each element in the film frame individually composited through careful multiple exposures.
Towards the end of production, the old camera's motor finally began to die and could no longer advance the film properly, riddling the final reels with unintentional light leaks.
Upon its original release in 2012, "It's Such a Beautiful Day" was listed by many film critics as one of the best films of the year. The L.A. Film Critics Association named it runner-up for Best Animated Film.
In 2014, Time Out New York ranked it #16 on its list of the "100 Best Animated Movies Ever Made."
In 2016, The Film Stage's critics ranked the film #1 on their list of "The 50 Best Animated Films of the 21st Century Thus Far."
In 2019, The Wrap named "It's Such a Beautiful Day" the #1 "Best Animated Film of the 2010s." The same year, Vulture's film critics ranked it #12 on their overall list of the "Best Movies of the Decade."
In 2021, IGN's CineFix placed it #1 on their "Top 10 Animated Films of All Time" list.
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