Ciclope

Echoes of the past hint at voices of the future in this enjoyable animation from Bjørn-Erik Aschim and co-director Max Taylor.

Created for the Ciclope festival in Germany, which is dedicated to the craft of the moving image, the art of execution, rather than the ideas. It seems an odd distinction but there is both strong control of craft and a simple but effective idea at work in this short, which follows a drone as it flies across a series of landscapes carrying a mysterious package, its ribbon flapping in the wind.

Drawing inspiration from Norman Wilkinson's distinctive British railway posters, which used blocky colours and simple shapes to create an impact, the film takes the messenger on an adventure. The machine travels over everything from countryside and volcanoes to industrial landscapes, allowing for a wide colour palette to be employed. Although the drone doesn't have a 'personality' as such, it's determined progress through day and night soon has us rooting for it regardless.

Liam Paton, Jade Pybus and Resonate Music's choir-based score - which was originally sung as live accompaniment at the festival - has the uplifting ambience of a corporate bank advert, but fulfils its hopeful purpose.

Watch the film here:

Ciclope from The Line on Vimeo.