Following the fantastic response to The Crane, I was presented with the opportunity to create a second animation in a similar style – this time about a whale! The source imagery and story came from this medieval manuscript from the turn of the thirteenth century. I adapted these historical assets to create this animation.
It was a pleasure working with the British Library and The Polonsky Foundation team in bringing this story to life. The voice over and sound design also works perfectly!
Design & Animation – Charlie Minnion
Voice Over – Charlotte Saward
Sound Design – Luis Bonilla
Client – British Library
Project Hashtag – #PolonskyPre1200
Website – Medieval England and France, 700 -1200 / Videos
Blog – Whale of a time
Bestiary Manuscript – British Library, Harley MS 4751
Storyboard
Moodboard
As a lot of the core style had been established with the crane animation, I used this opportunity to develop a new colour palette, gather some relevant reference pics and knock out some new visual ideas as to how things may look under and above the water.
Sketch – scene layout
Stills
Crane animation
Before my work on The Whale, the British Library commissioned me to create an animation featuring crane birds. Both these animations were very well received and I am delighted to have been involved in them!