Art Direction and Visual Development for short animation "The Ocean Duck" by Huda Razzak
https://theoceanduckfilm.com/
About the Film:
Alluding to an allegory by Persian poet Rumi, The Ocean Duck is a 2D animated short film and a modern re-telling through the genre of magical realism and with an aesthetic of early Middle Eastern painted and illuminated manuscripts.
Synopsis: A woman visits her ailing grandmother in a hospital during a flood, bringing back fond memories of the past – spilling over into fantastical visions in the present – as an ancient tale comes to life.
https://theoceanduckfilm.com/
About the Film:
Alluding to an allegory by Persian poet Rumi, The Ocean Duck is a 2D animated short film and a modern re-telling through the genre of magical realism and with an aesthetic of early Middle Eastern painted and illuminated manuscripts.
Synopsis: A woman visits her ailing grandmother in a hospital during a flood, bringing back fond memories of the past – spilling over into fantastical visions in the present – as an ancient tale comes to life.
Recently we won The OscarⓇ-qualifying jury award at NYICFF
ANIMATION MAGAZINE
"This year’s Festival jury included Uma Thurman, Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, and Kyle MacLahlan, among others. The Oscar-qualifying Jury Award for animated short went to The Ocean Duck from director Huda Razzak. “This year’s Festival presented such a gorgeous, strong selection,” Oscar-nominated juror Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner) said of the 2022 Festival program.
"This year’s Festival jury included Uma Thurman, Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, and Kyle MacLahlan, among others. The Oscar-qualifying Jury Award for animated short went to The Ocean Duck from director Huda Razzak. “This year’s Festival presented such a gorgeous, strong selection,” Oscar-nominated juror Nora Twomey (The Breadwinner) said of the 2022 Festival program.
Co-directed by Anh Ngo, The Ocean Duck is a hybrid 2D film which takes inspiration from Rumi’s poetry and illuminated manuscripts to tell a modern story about a young woman visit her grandmother in hospital during a flood, which causes memories of the past to spill over in fantastical visions in the present."
The jury gave special recognition for the film, stating that it, “…is a mysterious and moving film that is on some level about the reciprocity of familial love and caregiving. For children, this will come into focus as the film’s parallel storylines converge, while adults may be left pondering the broader mysteries illuminated by the film’s gorgeous imagery and animation.” "
FILM THREAT
"Made with extreme care and devotion, the film tells an intimate and fantastical story of grief, memory, and healing."
"Visually appealing and thematically compelling, The Ocean Duck is a powerful 6-minute journey through memory and grief that feels both personal and universal."
"Made with extreme care and devotion, the film tells an intimate and fantastical story of grief, memory, and healing."
"Visually appealing and thematically compelling, The Ocean Duck is a powerful 6-minute journey through memory and grief that feels both personal and universal."
DEED NEWS
"Huda Razzak’s OSCAR® qualified animated short THE OCEAN DUCK a timeless story bringing to life a family’s ancient tale"
"This phenomenal short is based on a poem in Rumi’s Masnavi, describing a duck that is raised by chickens, despite its true home being the ocean – a symbol for the eternal. This touching yet uplifting film has qualified to be considered for the 95th Academy Awards® after winning Best Animated Short at New York International Children’s Film Festival."
"Huda Razzak’s OSCAR® qualified animated short THE OCEAN DUCK a timeless story bringing to life a family’s ancient tale"
"This phenomenal short is based on a poem in Rumi’s Masnavi, describing a duck that is raised by chickens, despite its true home being the ocean – a symbol for the eternal. This touching yet uplifting film has qualified to be considered for the 95th Academy Awards® after winning Best Animated Short at New York International Children’s Film Festival."
Background arts
Character development
Stills
Poster
Screening at Castro Theatre San Francisco
