A new animation from Animage Films discusses themes of anxiety in young people. Directors Ruth Beni and Daniel Greaves worked together to produce the seven minute short which is due to be released later in the year.
All of Our Shadows follows the story of a teenage boy struggling with issues that are unfortunately part of day to day life for some people. On top of concerns such as global warming, homelessness, war and natural disasters, knife crime is an issue that is all too close to home for many young people in the UK. Dealing with the anxiety that arises from this can be an isolating and scary feeling; All of Our Shadows hopes to shed some light on the subject and let people know that they are not alone. The film encourages friends to reach out and support one another.
The animation is engaging throughout the film, but it particularly excels during the middle section when the characters become pencil drawings on paper. This forms part of the emotional crux of the film as the friends come together to discuss the things they are worried about. The inventiveness of the creative team is apparent in their depiction of anxious thoughts as an untameable black cloud that follows the protagonist around. Not only is this a visually stimulating element, the representation may also help people to better understand their own thoughts.
Another stand out feature is the music and sound design by Jamie Payne and Elian Gray. The music really adds another depth to the film, complementing the changing tone at end and rounding the short off on a positive note.
I particularly enjoyed the ‘Making Of’ video on the Animage Vimeo page – it gives a greater insight into the creative process and allows for a better appreciation of what goes into making a short animation. It’s great to see how the team were able to involve young people too.
Overall, a lovely animation with a poignant and important message.