The NFB Auteur Animation Web Site is a window into the hotbed of Canadian/Québecois auteur animation. Users can view complete animated films and clips, as well as going behind the scenes to experience the many facets of the creative process. It is an experience and content-driven site, equipped with the necessary applications to provide users with a rewarding interactive experience.

The kind of animation this site is about is difficult to define in one sweeping generalization. It distinguishes itself commercial animation in that artistic expression and the exploration of the medium are among its primary objectives. Animation of this ilk celebrates artistic differences and multiple subjective points of view. Despite its variants, however, one unifying characteristic is the predominance of the author's "voice," which is always manifest in the work. Hence the term "auteur" animation-a label which remains open to debate.

A need was identified on the Web for significant sites on auteur animation. The NFB-with its leading historical role in the fostering of auteur animation and access to the necessary resources-concluded that it was well positioned to take on the project of presenting the Canadian perspective on auteur animation to the world. Hence, the NFB Auteur Animation Web Site was born.

The site brings together information, history, knowledge and insights. It offers media-rich experiences, interactive forums and advanced user-customisation options. It provides a focus and tools for a creative community. Whether one is an amateur, an incidental visitor and or an expert, all user groups are offered dynamic points of entry into auteur animation world.

The look and feel of the site will reflect the lively sensibilities the auteur animation community while at the same time being functional and simple to navigate. A rotating roster of invited "quick sketch" artists will provide the site's rich graphic sensibility. Solid information architecture with content being fed from a database into dynamically generated Web pages, combined with a robust search engine provides users with direct access to the information they want.