A Man and Two Crows

     Here is my final version of the 30s animation piece based on a sound exploration practice from class. There are 230 still pictures composed for this 30 seconds piece. The final version takes literally 3 full days to make. The story is changed quite a bit through the process. As the more I explore the interrelation within the different sound elements, the more narrations start to manifest. From the first version of the sound piece, the comparison between cold and warm is predominant. Two crows, from exterior, and one man, from interior, are the subject performing cold and warm presence.  Along the process, I start to think of more possible connections between the crows and the man. In the end, this version of narration comes out.
     The crow couple is separated  for the male crow has to find food to support his wife and child at winter, the man works alone inside the house as he is on his own creative working process. At the beginning stage of the story, both crows and the man sense the notion of "cold" from both the physical circumstance and emotional loneliness. When the man has his resting time with a cup of fresh coffee, his attention is drawn by the photo on his desk. He look at the photo longingly.  The male crow later flies back to his nest. The man hears the crows and holds the photo with a much lifted mood. At this stage, the crow family reflects the man's yearning of his family and implies a future encounter between him and his family. Therefore, the "warm" notion is introduced both physically (crow flies back to the nest, and man drinks hot coffee) and spiritually (family attachment). The basic idea above all is how love can walk us through tough conditions. The idea about traveling alone and separation between family members are inspired by my parents' crazy-busy-business-life-style and their powerful emotional attachment. Thank you for the inspiration, mom and dad!
     Long talk is finished, hope you would also enjoy this video. Thank you.