An animated short inspired by Jocelyn Morlock’s song “Bobby Hull” with words by Bill Richardson. A playful retelling of one of hockey’s quirkiest moments, blending classical music, 1970s CBC broadcast nostalgia, and Hanna-Barbera–style animation.

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The Piece Atop His Pate is an animated short inspired by Jocelyn Morlock’s song Bobby Hull (from her 2013 cycle Perruqueries), with words by Bill Richardson. This new animated film was created in collaboration with OCAD University’s Department of Experimental Animation.

The song recalls a quirky moment in Canadian hockey history. In 1978, during a WHA game between the Winnipeg Jets and Birmingham Bulls, a scuffle on the ice led to Bobby Hull’s toupee being knocked loose. Hull returned to the game wearing a helmet, and the incident quickly became hockey lore. In reality, it was Dave Hanson — not Steve Durbano, as was widely reported at the time — who inadvertently knocked Hull’s hairpiece off. Morlock and Richardson take playful liberties with the details, turning the episode into a humorous and musically inventive art song.

Listeners may also catch a witty nod to The Hockey Theme by Dolores Claman (1927–2021), the instantly recognizable soundtrack of Saturday night hockey for generations of Canadians.

Visually, the animation draws on the look and feel of late-1970s CBC hockey broadcasts, referencing the analog-style graphics and rotoscope treatments of the era. The design also tips its hat to Hanna-Barbera animation and to the Pete the Puck interstitial cartoons that often appeared during hockey broadcasts in North America. Together, these influences create a nostalgic, tongue-in-cheek visual world that amplifies the humour and charm of the song.

This animated short continues Canadian Art Song Project’s exploration of how music and visual storytelling can intersect. Following The Wild Goose (2024), The Piece Atop His Pate expands CASP’s goal of bringing Canadian art song to life in unexpected ways — here blending classical music, hockey history, and animation.

This short film was made possible through the generous financial support of Janet Stubbs and the collaboration with OCAD University.

In memory of Jocelyn Morlock (1969–2023)

A collaborative animation between 5 artists, provided with the theme of envisioning the future with AI and how the world responds to its evolution. This animation submission placed in the top ten for the 24-hour animation challenge by Legends Animated.

Role: Colouring Animator
Skills: Communicated well with peers and problem solved through technical challenges of exporting
Software: Procreate, Toon Boom Harmony and DaVinci Resolve