Organima

An ongoing research series investigating animation with organic materials

organima 6 - Bewrop

Check out my substack article talking about the making of this piece in more detail.

A bewrop [byu-lop] breaches the surface searching for a snack, when it notices a foreign device sitting nearby. Investigating, it concludes it is being perhaps monitored, or inspected, or watched. An audience. A bewrop savours a spectator, so it skids and bobs along the water, performing tricks and flaunting, before soaking its audience and sinking home.

Sound and music by Ouri
Title Design by Anna Chandler

Supported by Canada Council for the Arts

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organima 5 - The Uu

Made in partnership with Anna Chandler

Check out my substack article talking about the making of this piece in more detail.

Observing spirits woven by light that do not distinguish between independence and togetherness.

“Our observation shows an encounter of two stray Uu. It appears at first that they’re in a conflict, as they’re circling around and colliding into each other like head-butting goats. Later it becomes clear they were not battling, but attempting to join together, and finally they discover how to move in harmony. Moving so, the two strays merge and become a single stay Uu. From this encounter we can conclude that the autonomous Uu strays cannot only reincorporate themselves into the greater presence of The Uu, but also independently join together.”
-excerpt from The Uu: A Collection of Observations and Ideas

Sound and music by Daniela Andrade
Animation Assistance by Marvin Lau

Supported by Canada Council for the Arts

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organima 4 - The Dodeda

Check out my substack article talking about the making of this piece in more detail.

A look at a stone species who have lost count of time.

Two young dodeda are playing when they’re approached by an older dodeda, an elder. This ancient dodeda initiates a connection, reaching out a vein from each of its rings to make contact. It then migrates a shadow its life’s memories to the younger one; a great honour, as it can be done only once. Once completed, the elder accepts its 7th ring, which is the final ring for a dodeda. This last ring prompts the rebirth transition, where the elder reintegrates itself back into the stone, leaving behind 3 newly born dodeda, safe in the rubble.

Sound and music by Will Miller

Supported by Canada Council for the Arts

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organima 3 - leaf galls

When insects create homes on a maple leaf.

Inspired by the Maple Eyespot Gall and its circular formations, we explored storytelling through organic mark-making and attempting a narrative on a single leaf. We began by carefully stripping away the leaf's pulp to reveal a scaffold. The removed pulp was then repurposed as an ink and reapplied onto the leaf skeleton. This allowed us to animate the story of gall formation on a leaf using exclusively its own plant matter.

Galls are intricate growths on plant tissues made by burrowing insects. They become habitats for these insects, offering protection and food. They are often thought to be a disease, but are a crucial step in the lifecycle of some insects, and leave beautiful marks.

Made in full collaboration with Emi Takahashi

Music by Hinako Omori

Supported by Canada Council for the Arts

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