To See or Not to See (1969)
A witty 15-minute animated gem from the NFB exploring what happens when a scientist invents glasses that force pure objectivity.
To See or Not to See - Movie Information
- Original Title: To See or Not to See
- Release Year: 1969
- Directed by: Břetislav Pojar
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Animation
- Runtime: 15m
- Original Language: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 10, 1969 (Canada)
- Production Companies: ONF | NFB
- Production Countries: Canada
To See or Not to See - Plot
A scientist develops an unusual pair of eyeglasses which allows the wearer's mind to see things objectively rather than the usual subjective manner.
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To See or Not to See - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Břetislav Pojar
Main Cast
- Severn Darden
Writers
- Břetislav Pojar
Producers
- Robert Verrall
- Wolf Koenig
To See or Not to See - FAQs
What is To See or Not to See about?
To See or Not to See follows a scientist who invents a remarkable pair of eyeglasses that strip away personal bias, letting the wearer perceive the world with pure objectivity. The film uses this clever premise to explore how subjective perception shapes our everyday reality, wrapped in Břetislav Pojar's distinctive animated style.
Is To See or Not to See a short film?
Yes, it's a short animated film running just 15 minutes. Produced by the National Film Board of Canada and released in October 1969, it packs a surprisingly rich philosophical idea into a compact, inventive runtime — a hallmark of NFB's celebrated short animation tradition.
Where can you watch To See or Not to See?
You can watch To See or Not to See on Amazon Video, where it's available to buy or rent. It's a short watch at just 15 minutes, making it an easy and rewarding pick for fans of classic animation or philosophical short films.
Who directed To See or Not to See?
The film was directed by Břetislav Pojar, a celebrated Czech animator who collaborated extensively with the National Film Board of Canada. Pojar was renowned for his puppet and drawn animation work, and this film stands as a fine example of his playful yet thought-provoking approach to the medium.
What does the objectivity theme mean in this film?
The film's central conceit — glasses that force objective vision — is a witty philosophical provocation. It asks whether truly unfiltered perception is desirable or even bearable. By animating this idea, Pojar suggests that subjectivity isn't a flaw in human nature but perhaps an essential, humanizing feature of how we experience life.
Who produced To See or Not to See?
The film was produced by Robert Verrall and Wolf Koenig for the National Film Board of Canada (ONF | NFB). Both Verrall and Koenig were prominent figures at the NFB, contributing to its international reputation as a powerhouse of innovative short and animated filmmaking throughout the mid-20th century.
Is To See or Not to See based on a true story?
No, it's an original animated work. The story of a scientist inventing objectivity-inducing glasses is a fictional, allegorical conceit crafted by Břetislav Pojar himself, who also wrote the film. It's more philosophical fable than narrative drama, using animation's freedom to explore ideas that live-action could struggle to convey.
What are similar films to To See or Not to See?
If you enjoy this kind of thoughtful short animation, you might also appreciate The North Wind and the Sun (1960), Diary (1966), and Don't Hug Me I'm Scared 2 (2014). For broader animated short recommendations, Day & Night (2010) and No Time for Nuts (2006) offer similarly inventive, idea-driven storytelling in compact form.
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