A fun, family friendly collection of global animated shorts that are sure to make you smile.
*Online screenings will be available for three days of program start.
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The Mayfly
The Mayfly is a lyrical tale of young Megalyn Mayfly who was born in New York City’s Central Park. The story was inspired by an actual event witnessed by the film’s Creator, legendary Actress/Singer Betty Lynn Buckley. Megalyn goes against all Mayfly cultural norms to dedicate her short life to Music and Dance. Her quest takes her from Central Park West to the Upper East Side’s Café Carlyle where she performs her final opus, creating beautiful patterns in the light as she dances over the head of singer Judy Collins. Animated traditionally in 2D, The Mayfly is a love letter to Music and New York City.
Animation Director: Sue Perrotto
SUE PERROTTO -- Director, Co-Executive Producer and Lead Animator on The Mayfly, is a 4-time Emmy Nominee, whose prodigious career includes feature films (Beavis and Butt-head Do America; Pooh’s Heffalump Movie) and award-winning television series (Daria; Phineas and Ferb; Sesame Street; Mira, Royal Detective). She is currently a Director on Dan Harmon’s new, hit animated series, Krapopolis, as well as a Subject Matter Expert/Faculty for New York University’s Animation Industry Essentials course Director Statement: When I read the script and heard the beautiful track that Betty Lynn Buckley had created about a little mayfly who breaks away from the norm and follows her own path, it resonated with me to my core. I fell in love with Megalyn’s commitment to her art, her joy and wonder about the world around her, and most of all, her determination to pursue her passion until her very last breath. Megalyn’s story is my story… and the story of so many artists… and I’m so grateful to have been a part of bringing her to life — a life very well lived. Country of Origin: United States
Length: 7:05 Minutes |
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Fashion Victims 2.0
An inconvenient truth: the Western fashion industry stands on forced child labor in the Third World. Will you still consent to it?
FASHION VICTIMS 2.0 is the animated recreation of the mural painted by ESCIF in January 2022 in front of a well-known fashion store in Valencia. The painting exposes our passivity towards child labor and its harsh conditions in developing countries. The animation short film brings to life the people painted on the wall to show their alienation and the nonsense of our unsustainable consumption habits. FASHION VICTIMS 2.0 is also a tribute to Valencia street art and to ESCIF: an artist concerned about a most uncomfortable reality. Director: María Lorenzo
María Lorenzo Hernández (Alicante, 1977) teaches animation at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Universitat Politècnica de València. She is one of the most renowned Spanish animation filmakers, whose shorts have been selected, exhibited and awarded in more than 40 countries. Nominated for the 2016 Goya Awards for her short film The Night Ocean (2015), her filmography also includes Urban Sphinx (2020), Impromptu (2017), The Cat Dances with its Shadow (2012), The Carnivorous Flower (2009) and Portrait of D. (2004), works reviewed in books such as 100 años de animación española. Arte y tecnología (Diboos Federation, 2016) or Adaptation for Animation (CRC Press, 2019). María Lorenzo has writen the book La imagen animada. Una historia imprescindible (Diábolo, 2021), and since 2011 she has directed the journal Con A de animación Director Statement: FASHION VICTIMS 2.0 is the animated recreation of the mural painted by ESCIF in January 2022 in front of a well-known fashion store in Valencia. The painting exposes our passivity towards child labor and its harsh conditions in developing countries. The animation short film brings to life the people painted on the wall to show their alienation and the nonsense of our unsustainable consumption habits. FASHION VICTIMS 2.0 is also a tribute to Valencia street art and to ESCIF: an artist concerned about a most uncomfortable reality. Country of Origin: Spain
Length: 2:00 Minutes |
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Mercedes'kitchen
Mercedes is a traditional Mexican cook, she learned cooking by watching her mother and grandmother. When she arrived to France, she wantedt to claim Mexican gastronomy and show this ancestral cuisine.
Directed by: Inés Argueta, Melissa Troublé Inés Argueta is a Mexican director. She directed a first animated documentary with the production company IberoDocsLab “Cuando me di cuenta que estaba viva”, which follows the life of a female survivor of sexual torture. After this experience, Inés decided to do Gender Studies in Paris, to understand violence against women in all its forms. She continues to combine documentary research and animation in this short film which portrays Mercedes Ahumada. Country of Origin: France
Length: 8:34 Minutes |
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bé hồng (little persimmon)
A young girl memorializes her late grandfather by attempting to obtain his favorite fruit. Curiously, she receives the aid of a couple of unexpected visitors.
Directed by: Thy Vo, Ivan Gozali, Yusra Shahid, Florence Young, Noël Wiggins, Tracy Liu Thy Vo: Thy is a 2D generalist animator that’s animated for series, commercial, and interactive works. Some clients she’s made work for include Cartoon Network, adult swim, and PBS Kids. Born in Brooklyn, but raised in Lawrenceville, Thy has always loved making videos and art, but really got into animation because it bridged the language gap she had with her family. Currently, some of her favorite subjects revolve around culture, music, fashion, anime, and gaming. Her current obsessions are Dungeon Meshi, Stardew Valley, and Tears of the Kingdom. Outside of art, she enjoys the gym, her pups, and cooking. She loves meeting new people, collaborating, and making something fun everyone will enjoy making and watching. Ivan Gozali: Ivan is a Chinese-Indonesian LA-based filmmaker; a story artist working in the animation industry since 2010. He's worked on a myriad of projects such as Guillermo Del Toro's Tales of Arcadia series, Paul McCartney's High in the Clouds, Lauren Faust's fun spin-off of DC Superhero Girls, with clients such as Disney, DreamWorks, Netflix, Warner Bros., ShadowMachine, Duncan Studios, and others. His passion is great cinema! He's interested in working on features or limited series that are boundary pushing--in stories, styles and genres; and especially in projects with high social impact, exploring humanitarian values, and a belief in making a difference. |
Country of Origin: United States
Length: 2:27 Minutes |
Yusra Shahid:
Yusra is an Indian background and visual development artist for animation. Having grown up in Kuala Lumpur and lived in Melbourne and London, she is now stationed in sunny Los Angeles. Yusra has worked for animated tv shows and feature films for clients like A24, Disney TVA, Nickelodeon, Titmouse, Atomic Cartoons and more. She loves to tell the stories from her own culture and the ones she’s experienced around her while growing up through her art. When not drawing, you can find her making pretty earrings and tiny clay pins.
Florence Young:
Florence is a Chinese-Canadian artist who works in the video games, film, and animation industries. Having grown up with a Chinese-Cambodian father who enjoys sharing his love of stories and cultures that he grew up with, Flo developed a passion for learning asian history along with their myths and legends. She also loves noodles, anime, and martial arts movies. She now lives in Massachusetts with her partner and bearded dragon. Flo has worked on projects published by Ubisoft, Warner Brothers, Nelvana, Disney XD, Nickelodeon, and Dungeon Masters Guild. She continues to create characters and environments steeped with story and charm taking inspiration from her own heritage. In her spare time, Flo is working on writing and illustrating her own manga as well as developing an indie game.
Noël Wiggins:
Noël is a comedy writer, animatic editor, voice actor, and voted most likely to wear too many hats. Born a military brat in the Philippines, Noël spent most of his childhood moving from military base to base and living in his imagination rather than making actual friends. Luckily for him, this would foster his creative journey and love of storytelling. He writes comedies about diverse misfits who fight to break away from tradition in order to rewrite their own stories and he has over five years of experience writing, directing, or editing animated web series such as Red vs Blue: Family Shatters, Human Beans, and Paula and Pals. Noël is an avid sneakerhead that can be described as if every wacky ‘90s toy commercial was a person.
Tracy Liu:
Tracy Liu is a Chinese-American self-taught illustrator specializing in animation and game production. After pursuing degrees in Ecology, Motion Graphics, and Museum Studies, Tracy began her career in museum exhibits and public programming. She honed her skills at a design firm, specializing in interactive exhibits, before transitioning to Nickelodeon, where she became an Associate Producer creating interactive videos as well as an Emmy-nominated series for their preschool app Noggin. Currently, she's taking Warrior Art Camp's 2024 Animated Short Film Making course.
Raised in NYC by a history professor mom and composer dad, Tracy's passion for painting, comics, and storytelling is inspired by documentaries, European and Asian animation, and Chinese wuxia dramas. Her favorite subjects are wildlife, mythology, and exploration of nature and the hidden depths of humanity. Beyond art, she enjoys reading epic fantasy novels, horseback riding, birdwatching, wildlife rehabilitation, and playing indie games.
Yusra is an Indian background and visual development artist for animation. Having grown up in Kuala Lumpur and lived in Melbourne and London, she is now stationed in sunny Los Angeles. Yusra has worked for animated tv shows and feature films for clients like A24, Disney TVA, Nickelodeon, Titmouse, Atomic Cartoons and more. She loves to tell the stories from her own culture and the ones she’s experienced around her while growing up through her art. When not drawing, you can find her making pretty earrings and tiny clay pins.
Florence Young:
Florence is a Chinese-Canadian artist who works in the video games, film, and animation industries. Having grown up with a Chinese-Cambodian father who enjoys sharing his love of stories and cultures that he grew up with, Flo developed a passion for learning asian history along with their myths and legends. She also loves noodles, anime, and martial arts movies. She now lives in Massachusetts with her partner and bearded dragon. Flo has worked on projects published by Ubisoft, Warner Brothers, Nelvana, Disney XD, Nickelodeon, and Dungeon Masters Guild. She continues to create characters and environments steeped with story and charm taking inspiration from her own heritage. In her spare time, Flo is working on writing and illustrating her own manga as well as developing an indie game.
Noël Wiggins:
Noël is a comedy writer, animatic editor, voice actor, and voted most likely to wear too many hats. Born a military brat in the Philippines, Noël spent most of his childhood moving from military base to base and living in his imagination rather than making actual friends. Luckily for him, this would foster his creative journey and love of storytelling. He writes comedies about diverse misfits who fight to break away from tradition in order to rewrite their own stories and he has over five years of experience writing, directing, or editing animated web series such as Red vs Blue: Family Shatters, Human Beans, and Paula and Pals. Noël is an avid sneakerhead that can be described as if every wacky ‘90s toy commercial was a person.
Tracy Liu:
Tracy Liu is a Chinese-American self-taught illustrator specializing in animation and game production. After pursuing degrees in Ecology, Motion Graphics, and Museum Studies, Tracy began her career in museum exhibits and public programming. She honed her skills at a design firm, specializing in interactive exhibits, before transitioning to Nickelodeon, where she became an Associate Producer creating interactive videos as well as an Emmy-nominated series for their preschool app Noggin. Currently, she's taking Warrior Art Camp's 2024 Animated Short Film Making course.
Raised in NYC by a history professor mom and composer dad, Tracy's passion for painting, comics, and storytelling is inspired by documentaries, European and Asian animation, and Chinese wuxia dramas. Her favorite subjects are wildlife, mythology, and exploration of nature and the hidden depths of humanity. Beyond art, she enjoys reading epic fantasy novels, horseback riding, birdwatching, wildlife rehabilitation, and playing indie games.
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Irish Goodbye
This project is set to an original song by Irish artist Sammy Copley. The song's message is something many Irish people have felt: the desire to leave their home juxtaposed with a want to stay if things could be different. The song spoke to me, personally, as a young person in Ireland facing challenges, particularly with the housing crisis, and longing to emigrate yet missing parts of Ireland that are comforting.
Directed by: AmberAmelia Kelly I am a 23 year old animator and artist from Kildare. I graduated from IADT with a Bachelors in Animation in 2023. I’ve always been drawn to animation and film making despite my love for all creative endeavors and really enjoy a mix of styles and mediums. Country of Origin: Ireland
Length: 1:49 Minutes |
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James
"James" is a heartfelt autobiographical short film narrated by
Anne Di Martino, who takes the audience on an emotional journey into her family's life. Anne recounts a moment from her childhood when her mother shared the story of discovering that Anne's younger brother, James, had Down's Syndrome. The film captures Anne's personal experience of growing up with a special needs sibling. She reflects on the challenges and joys that come with this journey, all while emphasizing the resilience and happiness that James brings to their lives. Directed by: Anne Marie Di Martino Anne Di Martino was born and raised in Ewa Beach. With a passion for visual storytelling she is currently pursuing her degree in Animation at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. This film aims to represent families with children born with Down's Syndrome who's stories rarely get represented in film media. Country of Origin: United States
Length: 4:38 Minutes Student Film |
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Oh! Man
Fly, walk, run, jump,
Climb, fall, run away, try... What else can you imagine Directed by: student collective (10_12) 6C Country of Origin: Portugal
Length: 2:00 Minutes Student Film |
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Black power is green power
Haïku: “Raised fist, an isolated willow tree makes spring explode”
Directed by: Etienne HUSSON J’ai découvert le cinéma et l’audiovisuel par le biais de dispositifs d’éducation aux images, d’ateliers, et d’options (au collège et au lycée). À l’université, en parallèle de mes études d’Anthropologie Sociale (où je suis allé jusqu’à l’obtention de mon Master 2), j’ai commencé à réaliser des films. Aujourd’hui, que ce soit par le biais du documentaire, de l’animation, ou de la fiction en prise de vue réelle, j’aspire à ce que mes réalisations aient à la fois une dimension onirique et à la fois une implication dans le réel. Country of Origin: France
Length: 1:00 Minutes |
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Moonlit Night of Spring River
This short animated film is a time-traveling and character-swapping animation of a girl sleepwalking through a Chinese garden. Accompanied by the classic melody of the traditional Chinese folk music "Moonlit Night of Spring River", the movie provides an interesting perspective on the unique beauty of Chinese gardens and architecture of the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912).
Directed by: Joe Chang Joe Chang is an award-winning Chinese-born Canadian animation director. He studied at Lu-Xun Academy of Fine Arts in Shenyang, China and Tama Art University Graduate school in Tokyo, Japan. The animated short the Chinese Violin (2000) was his first animated film with the National Film Board of Canada. His most recent work is animated short Moonlit Night of Spring River (2024). In 2002, he founded the animation major at the China Academy of Art， Hangzhou, China. Currently, Joe as an artist, independent filmmaker lives in Vancouver, Canada and Shanghai, China. Country of Origin: Canada
Length: 7:32 Minutes |
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Phool Dei
What began as a classroom assignment on the forgotten festival of flowers in Uttarakhand soon evolved into a passion project deeply rooted in the region’s rich heritage. The story Phool Dei gained depth and nuance from firsthand observations of the changing landscapes of Uttarakhand’s villages and cities.
Located in the fictional realm of Dev Bhoomi and nestled among majestic mountains, the narrative of the story is about the festival of flowers that celebrates the culture and togetherness of Uttarakhand, seen from the perspective of a small girl Medha as she goes on a Magical and an Adventurous journey to collect flowers for her village before it turns into a ghost village. The film focuses on the impact of migration in Uttarakhand, India in the last 5 years and shows the helplessness of the change through the journey of the main character. From character design to every individual flower, the essence of Uttarakhand is captured, both in terms of inspiration and in stylizing the original art form, such as the Aipan style of the state. Prioritizing simplicity in terms of animation while still holding to its authenticity, the film breathes life into not just the human characters but also the landscapes. The spirits of the mountains, depicted in the film, echo the mystique and warmth inherent in every Pahadi (people from Mountains). With its stylized backdrops, “Phool Dei'' captures the grandeur of Uttarakhand’s landscapes and the genuine spirit of its people. With themes of change, adventure, magic, and the undeniable force of nature, “Phool Dei” is both a tribute to Uttarakhand’s traditions and a poignant commentary on the challenges it faces. Directed by: Kartik Mahajan Kartik Mahajan is an Animator, Filmmaker, Illustrator & Story Teller based in Uttarakhand, India. He completed his bachelors in Communication design from National Institute of Design, Madhya Pradesh in 2023. Specializes in various fields of arts and design such as 2D Animation, Stop Motion, Illustration, Concept Art and Character Designing. He enjoys creating stories and characters which are inspired by local stories, folktales and myths from India. |
Country of Origin: India
Length: 7:22 Minutes Student Film |
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Country of Origin: United States
Length: 6:39 Minutes Student film |
The Tale of Mari
Mari, an elderly Japanese woman, recounts her experiences growing up in Okinawa, moving to America, and attempting to become a newspaper cartoonist.
Directed by: Anya Vaughn A lifelong daydreamer, Anya Vaughn has always had a passion for storytelling, no matter the medium. Her desire to learn both 2D animation and fine arts skills led her to study at the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she also developed an unexpected love for stop motion. After receiving her BFA, Anya continued to study animation at Rochester Institute of Technology, obtaining her MFA in 2024. She enjoys using stop motion, 2D animation, and combinations of the two to enhance the themes in her stories. Director Statement: The Tale of Mari was created as a celebration of my grandmother’s art, which had been lost and forgotten until only a few years ago. The discovery of these comics came as a surprise, and made me realize how little I knew about my grandma’s past. Creating this film provided an opportunity for me to learn more about and connect with my grandmother. The Tale of Mari exists due to the support of my family in my pursuit of art. This film attempts to pay that support back, and to give my grandmother’s art the audience and appreciation that it never received in its time. |
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Clara
As Marielle and Ben talk and joke around over a bowl of cereal, Marielle grows anxious about their upcoming visit to see her family. While lost in her own thoughts busy contemplating how the visit will go, Marielle is unaware that she’s been teleported into a world created by her fears until Ben’s voice snaps her out of her daze and she finds herself no longer in their dining room. She is then dropped, dragged, drowned, engulfed, and teleported around strange yet familiar environments. The one thing these environments have in common is a mysterious, glowing, purple cat with a familiar voice, who seems to be leading her somewhere. Desperate for an escape and a sense of familiarity, she chases after the cat. Once united with the mysterious cat, she is able to return to her own reality, where she finds peace and comfort in Ben’s presence.
Directed by: Turma 4ºB EB1Pe Ladeira/CENA Clara was a cheerful and sweet girl. At her school, a group of students teased her all the time. Still, she was not an unhappy child! |
Country of Origin: Portugal
Length: 3:26 Minutes Student Film |
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Country of Origin: Canada
Length: 6:04 Minutes |
Have I Swallowed Your Dreams
A poetic conversation between an immigrant daughter and her mother about sacrifices and dreams.
Directed by: Clara Chan Clara Chan has been in the animation/VFX industry for over two decades. She works as a VFX Supervisor at Sony Pictures Imageworks by day, and as an independent filmmaker by night. She made her first independent short film, “Embrace,” in 2021 which has been screened at different film festivals in Canada and the US. She started Flying Dumpling Films in 2022 because she is passionate about telling unique and authentic stories that connect with people. Clara has lived in mainland China, Hong Kong, California, New York and Texas, and currently resides in Vancouver, Canada. She has a B.S. in computer science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an M.S. in Visualization Sciences from Texas A&M University. She has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (Short Films and Feature Animation Branch) since 2021. |
Director Statement: This is a fictional story inspired by my family’s immigration journey. When my parents were teenagers, they left their homes in Vietnam and Cambodia respectively to go to China for free education. I could imagine the big dreams they must have had when they first landed in China. Then life’s journey altered those dreams. After my brother and I were born, my parents decided to leave everything behind to start a new life in Hong Kong. My father worked as a construction worker in Hong Kong instead of utilizing his degree in architecture because his mainland Chinese degree was not recognized in Hong Kong. Life was tough but good until in the 80’s when talks of returning Hong Kong to China started. My parents knew that the meaning of freedom would not be the same once China took over. So once again, we left our home in Hong Kong and immigrated to North America, hoping for a better future. But life as immigrants is full of challenges. Language barrier, economic hardship, racism, to name a few. That made me wonder, is it all worth it?
Now that I have two children of my own, I understand the choices and sacrifices a parent has to make for the family. Sometimes I struggle to make those choices. That was when I got inspired to write a poem, showing first the point of view of a daughter, feeling guilty that she has swallowed her mother’s dreams, and then the surprising different point of view of her mother. Animation is the perfect medium because it lets me tell this mother-daughter story in an imaginative and visually interesting way.
I believe this film will help light a spark for one to reflect on their relationships with their parents, children or loved ones. Also, by sharing one immigrant family’s experience, I hope to create room for empathy and understanding amongst people.
Now that I have two children of my own, I understand the choices and sacrifices a parent has to make for the family. Sometimes I struggle to make those choices. That was when I got inspired to write a poem, showing first the point of view of a daughter, feeling guilty that she has swallowed her mother’s dreams, and then the surprising different point of view of her mother. Animation is the perfect medium because it lets me tell this mother-daughter story in an imaginative and visually interesting way.
I believe this film will help light a spark for one to reflect on their relationships with their parents, children or loved ones. Also, by sharing one immigrant family’s experience, I hope to create room for empathy and understanding amongst people.
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Tell me a story
The film was produced by a workshop with girls about their personal lives or their friends’ stories and an attempt to heal from them Directed by: Marwa ali Country of Origin: Egypt
Length: 4:04 Minutes Student film |
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Country of Origin: United States
Length: 4:49Minutes Student film |
CHAIN
"Chain," directed by Ling Han, is a 3D animated short film featuring charming characters and a sophisticated environment. It uniquely tells the story of the mantis catching the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. "Chain" is visually stunning and emotionally rich, expressing nature's survival instincts and prompting viewers to ponder life's deeper questions. We sincerely recommend this film to fans of animation and proverbs Directed by: Ling Han I have been passionate about animation since childhood, but I never thought it could be a viable career option. During my undergraduate studies in printmaking, I began questioning whether it was the right path for me. It wasn't until my roommate introduced me to 3Dmax that I discovered my true calling. After creating a few pieces, I realized that animation was my true passion. I spent the next two years self-teaching different kinds of CG software and landed my first job as a rigger. However, after a year, I knew that I really wanted to be an animator. To pursue my dream, I decided to come to the US to learn character animation professionally. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work for major companies in the animation and game industry, such as EA and Disney. The journey has been both rewarding and exciting, and I am proud of what I have learned and contributed to the industry. |
Director StatementThis film wouldn’t have been possible without my amazing team. I’m so thankful for their hard work and support. Each member brought unique skills and perspectives, making "Chain" a truly collaborative effort.
I hope viewers find "Chain" as engaging and thought-provoking as we intended. We hope it leaves a lasting impression on you.
I hope viewers find "Chain" as engaging and thought-provoking as we intended. We hope it leaves a lasting impression on you.
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On the last day of Navarathri
On the final day of Navarathri, a divine doll must face the fearsome fate that awaits her.
Directed by: Aarya Kalyansunder Aarya Kalyansunder is a 22-year-old animator and illustration enthusiast. She is a new graduate from NID Assam and loves visual storytelling. Passionate about her craft, she wishes to convey local stories through this medium. Director Statement: This is my debut 2d animated film and I am so excited to release it! This film is very close to my heart and I hope it's an enjoyable experience to the viewers :) Country of Origin: India
Length: 6:25 Minutes Student film |
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The Red Scarf-A Story of Armenian Hope
“The Red Scarf- A Story of Armenian Hope” Fate and a hand-woven scarf bring together the lives of Krikor, an Armenian orphan refugee, and Jackie Coogan, Hollywood's biggest child star, in a triumphant story of hope, courage and humanity amidst the tragedy of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. This heartwarming animated story is brought to life by Twiddle Productions Inc. in association with The USC Shoah Foundation.
This film was produced by Twiddle Productions Inc. in association with The USC Shoah Foundation as part of the “Keep the Promise” educational program and “The Stories of Armenian Hope” series. For more information about this project please go to www.armenianhope.twiddleproductions.com and https://iwitness.usc.edu/sites/keepthepromise Directed by: Michael Q.Ceballos Country of Origin: United Dtates
Length: 16:50 Minutes |
Executive Producer Statement
Parev, my name is Arpi Krikorian. I am a granddaughter of Survivors of the Armenian Genocide.
As a young child, the month of April was traumatic and overwhelming. I knew I would be inundated with horrific images as we honored the lives lost in the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Assemblies at school would show us photographs of beheaded bodies, mothers crying over the skeletons of their starving children, rows of our intellectuals hanging from gallows, families torn apart and separated, face after face of suffering. The sad duduk would play, the graphic slides would roll and I would relive the horror my grandparents lived.
When I became a mother, I witnessed my children experiencing the same thing as they learned about this devastating, yet very important, part (chapter?) of our history which can’t be ignored or forgotten. While I realized the necessity of my children learning about the Genocide and what happened to their great grandparents, as not only a mother but as an artist and animator working in children’s television, I realized there must be a better way to teach our kids about these atrocities.
I have been fortunate enough in my career to have made friends with like-minded individuals who even though were not of Armenian descent, empathized and understood the importance of this tragic event that changed the trajectory of all Armenian lives. Together, we used our collective experience in children’s programming to develop the animated series “Stories of Armenian Hope.” Based on true stories of people helping those in need, creating hope in a hopeless situation, it presents these events in a new and gentler, more effective way.
As an Executive Producer at Twiddle Productions, I am excited, proud and grateful to announce that after years of development, we collaborated with The USC Shoah Foundation and completed the initial episode “The Red Scarf: A Story of Armenian Hope”, which is part of The Shoah Foundation’s Keep the Promise Armenian Genocide Education Program.
We hope you enjoy “The Red Scarf: A Story of Armenian Hope” and that it becomes a starting point of an important conversation for you and your family and a conduit of awareness about this important part of human history.
- Arpi Krikorian
Parev, my name is Arpi Krikorian. I am a granddaughter of Survivors of the Armenian Genocide.
As a young child, the month of April was traumatic and overwhelming. I knew I would be inundated with horrific images as we honored the lives lost in the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Assemblies at school would show us photographs of beheaded bodies, mothers crying over the skeletons of their starving children, rows of our intellectuals hanging from gallows, families torn apart and separated, face after face of suffering. The sad duduk would play, the graphic slides would roll and I would relive the horror my grandparents lived.
When I became a mother, I witnessed my children experiencing the same thing as they learned about this devastating, yet very important, part (chapter?) of our history which can’t be ignored or forgotten. While I realized the necessity of my children learning about the Genocide and what happened to their great grandparents, as not only a mother but as an artist and animator working in children’s television, I realized there must be a better way to teach our kids about these atrocities.
I have been fortunate enough in my career to have made friends with like-minded individuals who even though were not of Armenian descent, empathized and understood the importance of this tragic event that changed the trajectory of all Armenian lives. Together, we used our collective experience in children’s programming to develop the animated series “Stories of Armenian Hope.” Based on true stories of people helping those in need, creating hope in a hopeless situation, it presents these events in a new and gentler, more effective way.
As an Executive Producer at Twiddle Productions, I am excited, proud and grateful to announce that after years of development, we collaborated with The USC Shoah Foundation and completed the initial episode “The Red Scarf: A Story of Armenian Hope”, which is part of The Shoah Foundation’s Keep the Promise Armenian Genocide Education Program.
We hope you enjoy “The Red Scarf: A Story of Armenian Hope” and that it becomes a starting point of an important conversation for you and your family and a conduit of awareness about this important part of human history.
- Arpi Krikorian