Associate Professor, Dr. Max Hattler, is an internationally acclaimed abstract animator who is known for his integration of innovative arts-based research in animation and his inventive approaches to teaching the craft. His work has garnered many awards including the Off Limits Award at France’s Annecy Festival, Best Experimental Film at Norway’s ReAnima Festival, and Best Abstract Film Award at the London International Animation Festival on two occasions. The works of Hattler’s students have been featured in over 160 festivals and have won many awards. He is the recipient of CityU’s President’s Award in 2021, as well as the Teaching Excellence Award in 2021/22. Before becoming part of the School of Creative Media, Hattler served as a Lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London (2006-2014) and as a Visiting Lecturer at the Royal College of Art (2012-2014).

Hattler’s animation and pedagogy revolve around three primary themes: visual music, expanded stereoscopy, and abstract narrative. The concept of visual music delves into the integration of musical structures into abstract animation, converting sound or music into dynamic visual expressions. His major work in this field, “Divisional Articulations” (2017), earned widespread acclaim, featuring in over 100 festivals and securing 7 awards.

Expanded stereoscopy represents a research-intensive and experimental facet of his practice, supported by a GRF and grants from Nvidia Corporation and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. His interest in this field extends beyond crafting methods for displaying three-dimensional space; he seeks to challenge depth perception through innovative techniques like binocular rivalry. Among his stereoscopic works is “Vœrtex” (2020), which was exhibited in CityU’s “Art Machines: Past and Present” exhibition.

Hattler’s approach to abstraction in animation is based on the idea that even abstract forms can be harnessed to convey ideas, meanings, and also stories. His widely seen film “Serial Parallels” (2019), reconstructs Hong Kong’s towering apartment building facades, presenting them as celluloid film strips to offer an entirely fresh perspective on the urban landscape. With appearances in over 135 international showcases, “Serial Parallels” has amassed an impressive 24 awards, along with numerous honorable mentions.

Hattler is also an active curator. Perceiving a gap in the local arts scene, beginning in 2017, he began spotlighting and presenting experimental animation hailing from Hong Kong, in his “Relentless Melt” screening series. This unique initiative serves as a platform for Hong Kong animators, including students from SCM, with the overarching goal of garnering both public and academic attention for their creative output. Already 30 different versions of “Relentless Melt” screening events have been conducted, spanning locations within Hong Kong as well as internationally.