Second to None

You're never too old to settle a score

Written and directed by IFTA nominee Vincent Gallagher, 'Second to None' is a richly detailed stop-motion animation about the world's second oldest man. Frederick Butterfield has always been runner up to his twin brother Herman. When Herman, the older by a mere minute, becomes the world's oldest man, Frederick finally sees an opportunity to be first place. Frederick will stop at nothing to claim the top spot in the most inventive way possible. Second To None is my first ever attempt at stop-motion animation. Everything you see in the film was hand made and all shot practically in camera in a small dark studio over the course of six months. It was my idea to show that ambition can drive a person to desperation if all they crave is fame and success. I also wanted to show how the simplest approach can often be the best, but I wanted to show it by choosing the most complicated way to animate a film. Building on the success of a thriving animation industry, The Irish Film Board presents a stunning stop-motion animated film that is painstakingly detailed. Delivered with a sense of energy and black comedy that is equal in measure to the craftsmanship behind the film, you will see that Second to None truly lives up to it's name.