Gepubliceerd op 26-06-2026 , 14:33

Ultra Strong: NFB-kortfilm van Catherine LePage brengt Bruce Dickinson en heavy metal-inspiratie naar Annecy

De persoonlijke animatiefilm verkent innerlijke kracht, kwetsbaarheid en eigenwaarde via surrealistische beelden en de stem van de Iron Maiden-frontman.

Fresh from an Academy Award win for the stop-motion short The Girl Who Cried Pearls, the National Film Board of Canada arrived at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival with a new personal project. This time the Canadian studio shifted from fairy-tale aesthetics to heavy metal energy in the short film Ultra Strong.

Personal Story Drives Coming-of-Age Narrative

Written, directed and animated by Catherine LePage, Ultra Strong turns the ups and downs of young romance into a surreal journey of self-discovery. Drawing from LePage’s own life and her graphic novels, the film follows a young woman who hunts for confidence in external sources before realizing true strength lies inside. The story features inventive stops such as the Island of the Flakes and the Kind Heart Outlet, plus memorable symbols including a wobbling mound of Jell-O that represents resilience.

Bruce Dickinson Lends Voice and Energy

Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson provides the voice of a larger-than-life guide who helps the protagonist find her footing. LePage and producer Christine Noël persuaded the rock star to take part, turning the role into more than a cameo. Dickinson’s energetic presence mirrors the confidence the director wanted to convey.

It’s mostly based on my own experience, but I did add to it and make things bigger. It’s all based on personal experience.

— Catherine LePage, Interview with Deadline

Visual Metaphors Capture Emotional Truths

LePage uses striking imagery to express inner conflict. A food tower topped with salt-and-vinegar chips and mustard illustrates choices that go against one’s nature. The Jell-O mound starts as a symbol of vulnerability and hesitation yet proves strongest when shaken by an earthquake, remaining intact. The director noted that the image shows how true nature can endure life’s tremors.

Strength and vulnerability can go together. It’s not one or the other. Vulnerability doesn’t mean weakness.

— Catherine LePage, Interview with Deadline

Heavy Metal Fandom Inspires Key Character

LePage drew on her teenage heavy-metal phase and an Iron Maiden concert she attended at age 15. She sought a character who could push the heroine beyond her comfort zone and found the ideal fit in Dickinson’s stage persona. Noël, also a longtime fan, helped secure his participation through personal connections and a heartfelt letter referencing his desire to reach every audience member.

NFB Expands Animation Slate at Annecy

Noël noted that the National Film Board of Canada has attended Annecy for decades. At the festival the organization showcased work-in-progress projects, including a feature co-production and a Christmas special, while continuing its support for short-form animation.