Benny catches a tadpole in a lake close to the grey concrete block where he lives. His mother thinks that this is disgusting little creature, but when Benny puts it in his bath tub and follows its progress below the surface of the water, he is taken on a wonderful journey.
The tadpole turns out to be an enchanted prince and along with him Benny meets among others three beautiful, but affected mermaids, a conceited crab door keeper, two silly pirate skeletons that keep mocking each other and want to fight all the time and a funky octopus poised for fun and games (see clip).
Remember your inner child
Jannik Hastrup and Flemming Quist Moeller's Benny's Bath Tub is an entertaining film for both adults and children to watch together. The loose, almost improvised cartoon style of the animation ensures the special charm of the film, which disarms us with its batty ideas, jolly, jazzy music and colourful characters.
This sparkling, inventive film is based on a picturebook by Flemming Quist Moeller dating from 1969. It is about the inner child in all of us - a zestful, dry satire on all those boring adults who spend more time complaining and discussing washing powder than playing with their children.
Power of imagination
For 40 years Jannik Hastrup has produced the sort of cartoon films he wants to see himself. He believes that animation is an art form for adults as well as children. Along with his permanent, creative partners - Flemming Quist Moeller and Bent Haller - Hastrup has never been afraid of challenging his audiences.
Hastrup comes from the youth revolution in the 1960s and 70s and the political scene of that time. He often tells tough stories that are critical of society, but his tales can often be funny - with animals as main characters. Benny's Bath Tub is a film about the cheerful individual in a stifling society. It is also a wonderful tribute to the power of the imagination, joie de vivre and productive anarchy.
Christian Monggaard is a film reviewer and critic for the daily newspaper Information.
Benny in Benny's Bath Tub.