Wallace and Gromit creators Aaardman have made a short film, Flight of the Stories, to mark the re-opening of the Imperial War Museum’s galleries in London and for the wider Centenary.
The film, which will be screened online and in cinemas from today (July 7), depicts the journey of personal stories and letters written by those who never left the fields of Northern France during the First World War.
‘Quotation mark’ characters symbolising these stories emerge as lines are read from a selection of the thousands of letters and diaries entrusted to IWM by relatives during and after the First World War.
Scene from Flight of the Stories © Aardman
As the voices gather, the bird-like characters join to form a flock, taking flight across Northern France and the English Channel, over London, and finally resting at IWM London ready to share their stories again, one hundred years on.
Diane Lees, Director-General, IWM said: “Flight of the Stories captures exactly what we were trying to convey – for while it is true that some of the people never made it back from the fighting front, their stories have, and it is our duty at IWM to ensure that they continue to be told.
“This is what we will be doing in our new First World War Galleries, throughout the Centenary and beyond.
“We do hope that the public will share this beautiful film as widely as possible and that they will be encouraged to reflect upon the stories of those who lived and died throughout the First World War.”
Aardman, widely known for its work on Wallace & Gromit, Creature Comforts and Morph, combined 2D illustrations and 3D CGI animation techniques to create a hybrid effect, bringing to life the bold landscapes and muted palettes of war artists from the era.
This film has been created working alongside Johnny Fearless; the ad agency leading the museum’s reopening creative campaign.
Scene from Flight of the Stories © Aardman
Darren Dubicki, Director, Aardman, said: “We took an idea that was to create a powerful piece of imagery that is suggestive of the paintings from the era coming to life, and therefore a stunning piece for the Museum’s commemoration plans and new First World War Galleries.”
Paul Domenet, Executive Creative Director, Johnny Fearless, added: “We want to bring people to IWM London to see and hear the words of those who lived and died through the war for themselves and encourage them to reappraise the First World War in a way which is different to the stereotypical mud and blood imagery.”
IWM London will reopen on 19 July, with new First World War Galleries, a transformed Atrium space and new exhibition Truth and Memory; British Art of the First World War.
Source: Imperial War Museum
Images courtesy of the Imperial War Museum; © Aardman
Posted by: Mike Swain, Centenary News