ANIMATION   STORY   ILLUSTRATION

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Janet examining a strip of film
A photo of Janet Perlman

The ShowPeace Series, which I created for the NFB,  includes my films Bully Dance and Dinner for Two. It is a collection of six short films that deals with conflict resolution. Why Me? (co-directed with Derek Lamb) uses humour to deal with the subject of accepting death.


I have written and illustrated four children's books, including Cinderella Penguin, and a graphic novel, Penguins Behind Bars, which I adapted as a half-hour TV special for Cartoon Network.


My teaching experience includes Harvard, the Rhode Island School of Design, and Concordia University. I have had retrospectives at numerous festivals, including Annecy, Ottawa, and Les Sommets in Montreal, and conducted animation and storytelling workshops around the world.

I am an animation director, writer, and illustrator. My aim is to engage audiences with amusing and thought-provoking content. Some of my films tackle challenging subjects, however, some of my independent experimental films are utter nonsense. My films have received honors from all over the world, including The Tender Tale of Cinderella Penguin's Oscar nomination, an Emmy, as well as the prestigious "Best Bad Taste" award from the Ottawa Animation Festival. I have worked extensively with the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and with other animation studios. Whenever I can, I make independent experimental films which explore unconventional visual and narrative techniques.


Janet working

Working late into the night at my state-of-the-art work station.

The Girl with the Red Beret, my latest film, is based on the song Complainte pour Ste-Catherine, by Kate and Anna McGarrigle. It is produced by the French animation studio of the National Film Board. Also just completed is Janet Perlman’s Pinocchio, a one-minute experimental version of the oft-told story, made for Joan Gratz’s compilation The One-Minute Mistake.


Possibly by mistake, I was named by Huffington Post as one of the 21 COOLEST people who call Montreal home.



Examining frames from one of my experimental films.

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© 2023 Janet Perlman