This film, when I saw it as a child in the early 70's, affected me profoundly. Although my memory has faded some, certain specific things were inexorably embedded in my consciousness: A wee creature hopping along, chanting "I'm a bug, I'm a germ, I'm a bug, I'm a germ!" Upon bumping into the boots of a bearded man, it exclaims, "Louis Pasteur!!! I'm not a bug, I'm not a germ!" And I cannot forget the exchange between Michaelangelo and da Vinci: "Whaddaya doin?" "I'm painting the ceiling! Whadda you doin?" "I'm painting the floor!"
These recollections, faded but still strong, do not reflect the scope or genius of this short film, but they do reflect its spirit. In a series of unconnected sequences, Why Man Creates is simultaniously an exploration, example, and homage to Man's creative spirit. It shows, with the unique power of film, that imagination is, indeed, boundless and that the act of creation is as much a part of being human as anything else.
This film deserves to be preserved and shared with each generation of young children so that their imaginations can be freed to soar with whimsy and joy.