Last month I had the opportunity to direct an animated short. It's the story of a mother who loses her children while fleeing the eastern front during WWII, and how she finds them. Yes this did actually happen.
The station had moved the train to a different track. I can't imagine how scary it would be, to lose your children in a place like that...I'm not even a mom and it freaks me out...
Here's a bit of the making-of:
Dern proud of the team. It was a tight budget and an even tighter turnaround, and they did it with illustrious grace.
Backgrounds - Ben Simonsen
Animators & painters - Adrian Ropp, Aaron Mann, Chad Erekson
Additional painting - Sid Sexton
"3D" train & effects - Travis Deming
Audio & sound mixing - Jeff Meacham
Producer - Joe Fowler
Music - Stephen J. Anderson
Isn't the music beautiful? Gorgie music is gorgie, and you can download it now (for free!)
Great project to work on. I have learned a lot.
This animation was great. Last Sunday I showed it to my 3-year-old and as soon as it finished, he made me play it again. Great work, great direction!
ReplyDeleteI love this animation. every single time I watch it I get emotional. I reminds me of the times I have lost a child for just a short time and the awful feeling it brings. My heart goes out to that mother. I cry every time I watch it. Thank you for the wonderful and inspirational short!
ReplyDeleteNicely done by all! :)
ReplyDeleteWell done!!
ReplyDeleteI love it! It's such a beautiful, emotional short. You all did such an amazing job!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful job!!! What a great story!
ReplyDeleteTurned out great. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThis is great. Nice job. I love that story it always makes me cry. (weird how you can love something because it makes you cry. But there you go!)
ReplyDeleteNeat!
ReplyDeleteHow come she has painted stumps instead of feet?
@Betty - Good question. We kept the feet simple so the animation would be easier. Her hands are stumps too (when the fingers aren't needed)
ReplyDeleteThis is beautifully done, Heather! I'm so glad this poignant story from Dieter F. Uchtdorf was chosen for this treatment. You and your talented team did a fantastic job.
ReplyDeleteCindy at Rosehaven Cottage
So cool that you did this! I saw this the other day and thought it was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis is so incredible. i remember seeing this on lds.org and thinking how incredible it was. fabulous animation. I'm so glad i found someone to pay my compliments to. Fabulous work! Thank you, to you and your team!
ReplyDeleteThis is a very nice short, well done! Congratulations to you and your team! :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome music!
ReplyDeleteI remember when I heard this story the first time, I just had a pit in my stomach. I put myself in her position and I was terrified the whole time he related the story. You conveyed her feelings so well, as well as her inspiring reaction. Bravo! It makes me cry every time I watch it. (You should've seen my six-yer-old's face as he watched -- his eyes were so wide and worried.)
ReplyDeleteOne other thing I love is the kid on her lap at the end, chomping away at the bread. Such a perfect, oblivious little kid reaction! :)
Whoa, that was AMAZING!!! I'm not a mom either, but I'm the oldest of six, so I can totally understand how terrifying that would be. I showed this to my littler siblings, and my youngest brother was like, "ELISA, what happens, are the little kids alright, does the mommy find them, do they die, What's a TRAIN?
ReplyDeleteOh, and the music was AWESOME!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I was so happy when I found out you worked on this! I recognized your drawing style in the behind the scenes and am so glad!
ReplyDeleteJUST watched this. Wow. Just wow. I honestly don't know what I would have done...just wow.
ReplyDeleteGreat story!