Ryan: The Special Edition DVD
(Rhino)

Director Chris Landreth was strongly influenced by the work of Ryan Larkin, a fellow animator who dropped out of sight and was later discovered panhandling on the streets of Montreal. Following a series of interviews with Larkin, Landreth created a 14 minute short based on their conversations, using odd-looking 3D characters drawn by hand that the director calls “psychological realism.” Larkin’s tale is described in detail in the documentary “Alter Egos” included here, along with his most acclaimed work from thirty years ago. Several of Landreth’s other films complete this collection of ground-breaking shorts. - David Bassin