Umbra by Malcon Sutherland is an animated short revolving around a cyclical sequence that seems to be destined to repeat itself. The video is in black and white (except for the blue of the adventurer's helmet) and entirely hand-drawn.
It begins with an adventurer crashing onto an unknown planet. Walking around, the stalwart explorer seems content with his new discovery until he comes across a civilization of mini people who are obsessed with jumping through the gap created by the explorer's shadow. After trying to run away, falling down and experiencing a strange dream, the adventurer wakes up to find himself amongst the mini people, trying to jump into the shadow of his larger former self.
The video feels like a darker, animated version of Groundhog Dog, the Bill Murray movie in which a man must continue to relive the same day until he discovers what needs to change.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Cyclical Animation
- Opportunity for creating animated shorts that explore cyclical sequences and repetition in storytelling.
- Hand-drawn Animation
- Opportunity for utilizing the traditional technique of hand-drawn animation in creating visually stunning animated shorts.
- Meta-narratives
- Opportunity for creating animated shorts that delve into self-referential and self-aware storytelling.
Where This Applies
- Animation
- Disruptive innovation opportunity in the animation industry by incorporating cyclical storytelling and hand-drawn animation techniques.
- Film
- Opportunity for creating meta-narrative films that explore themes of repetition and self-discovery.
- Art
- Opportunity for artists to explore the use of animated shorts as a medium for self-expression and meta storytelling.
