The Boy and the Schoolmaster
Channel: TheRoyalrey
Date: 2009-03-01

I made a song out of the fable "The Boy and the Schoolmaster" by Jean De La Fontaine, that french writer from the 17th century. 
Actually, I wanted the song to sound very different than the version you are hearing now, but I could neither play nor sing my own composition, so I took a "We will rock you" beat and made a happy song.

I spend all sunday making this video (the weather is bad). I made simple pencil drawings of the different body parts of the characters and put them together using pieces of paper clips. I made several heads for each character so I could change the expression on their faces easily. 
I drew a landscape on my living room table and used my scarf for the water.

This is my first attempt of doing such a stop motion film. It's not really convincing in some parts, the timing is just wrong. I took nearly 500 pictures. Unfortunately some scenes are blurry because I set the focus wrong.

And here's the story:
"
A boy, that frolicked on the banks of Seine,
Fell in, and would have found a watery grave,
Had not that hand that plants never in vain
A willow planted there, his life to save.
While hanging by its branches as he might,
A certain sage preceptor came in sight;
To whom the urchin cried, "Save, or I'm drowned!"
The master, turning gravely at the sound,
Thought proper for a while to stand aloof,
And give the boy some seasonable reproof.
"You little wretch! this comes of foolish playing,
Commands and precepts disobeying.
A naughty rogue, no doubt, you are,
Who thus requite your parents care.
Alas! their lot I pity much,
Whom fate condemns to watch over such."
This having coolly said, and more,
He pulled the drowning lad ashore.
"