The Animated Poe: "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Another gem from Youtube today. This is an animated rendering of Edgar Allan Poe's famous piece, "The Tell-Tale Heart." The story remains one of Poe's most popular, and continues to be read by schoolchildren. In this 1953 edition, eerie animated effects guide the story, with striking surreal moments to underscore the narrator's madness. The verbal story-telling itself is also excellent, as James Mason's wavering tone carries a fitting hint of lurking madness. The animated Poe would do well to make a comeback. And perhaps it will someday, as the creative tools unleashed by cyberspace like Flash and Youtube would provide a wonderful arena for it.

-Grim Blogger