Skip to main content

Deep Dive: Tower (2016)

Play Trailer

Film Lens

Tower
Tower is a 2016 American animated documentary directed by Keith Maitland, focusing on the 1966 shootings at the University of Texas at Austin. The film recounts the events from the perspectives of survivors, using rotoscoping to animate their stories. It combines archival footage with animated recreations to depict the 96 minutes of chaos as Charles Whitman opened fire from the university tower, resulting in 16 deaths and numerous injuries. The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 13, 2016, and was later released in theaters by Kino Lorber on September 28, 2016. It aired on PBS's Independent Lens, further broadening its reach. The production was inspired by a 2006 Texas Monthly article by Pamela Colloff, and the film's unique animation style was chosen to effectively represent the geography of the campus where the tragic events unfolded.

Why Watch

  • •See the animated retelling of the UT Austin shooting.
  • •Meet survivors sharing their personal experiences.
  • •Find out how the film blends animation with archival footage.

Did You Know

•The film has a 99% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 100 reviews.
•Tower was financed through an Indiegogo campaign that raised almost $70,000.
•The film features interviews with over 100 individuals, including police and students.

Perfect For

Documentary enthusiastsHistory buffsAnimation fans