Based loosely on the William Blake poem of the same name, Tyger is an innovative and adventurous take on a short film.

Directed by Guilherme Marcondes, Tyger follows the story of a giant tyger that trawls the cityscape, travelling along the way it is turning all those that would fear it into insects of one kind or another. Glowing with illumination, a once urban city is turned into the Tyger’s jungle-like domain; perhaps the city is the metaphor for being a jungle of its volition.

The feature uses a mixture of puppetry and animation, mixing CG effects and rotoscoping (capturing movement of someone or something and applying another layer over that animation to provide human, animal, or insect like movement).

When we start with Tyger’s journey, the City, unamed in the story, is simply going about its business, with people watching television, eating dinner, or sleeping. It’s only when the Tyger crosses the domain that the humans become animals and insects, perhaps revealing their inner selves, and becoming carcitures of their former selves.

What interests me is how the presence of the Tyger puppeteers is never erased, what that suggests is either they didn’t have the budget to erase the puppeteers, or more likely they purposely left the puppeteers in a fix of originality. It adds an interesting dimension to the picture as you watch the Tyger come to life, but through the control of the puppeteers.

Credit also to the musicians, Zeroum, who provide a fitting soundtrack that pulsates and grows to gargantuan proportions much like the Tyger itself as it walks through the city.

Overall I found the production to be quite refreshing and original in execution. It offers something fresh and different, and manges to engage the viewer.

Verdict: An intriguing adaptation of a poem. Worth a viewing.