# animate! › Films › Scrutiny by Ian Cross › synopses

Canonical: https://animate.org.uk/films/scrutiny/synopses

Discovery terms: 1990s animation, photographic animation, computer animation, live action and animation, birth, marriage, death, social conventions, experimental short film, filmmaker

The following is the archived page text; discovery terms above are separately sourced metadata.

Archive status: restored in 2026; historical calls, deadlines and services are closed.

---

**Scrutiny** a film by Ian Cross

1995, 7 min 49 sec

### animate! synopsis

Strangers on a train, points on a journey through the ‘accepted nature of things‘. Fast talking animation scratches the surface of our familiarity as we question the answers we’ve been offered.

### long synopsis

”Naked came I out of my mothers womb and naked shall I return” *Job 1.21* **Scrutiny** questions the accepted ‘nature of things’ – birth, sex, marriage, death and DIY.

Rapid fire animation, fidgeting on the film’s surface, challenges us to make sense of it, while the contrasting live action lulls us into a false sense of familiarity. A journey is depicted, taking us through the heart of of the country and ending amidst the seemingly chaotic life of a city.

**Scrutiny** film, stills and other materials © Ian Cross 1995