It's time once again to go up to the attic and pull this film out of the box for the hunched and goofyhearts out there. Actually, its been on Vimeo for months, but who knew?
The Indescribable Nth is a short I made independently starting in 1993 and completing in 1999. Production was done at Character Builders Studio in Worthington, Ohio.
I started this film during a time when animated features were telling dramatic stories with human characters designed with realistic proportions in realistic settings. There was a ton of production value and great craftsmanship, but that meant squat if the character acting failed to move the audience. I felt that little bit of information was lost on executives. In the '90's, epic scale was in, which in an animated film is what - a tiny animated character on a large background? Clearly, the lesson they took from
The Lion King's success was: more wildebeests!
So I wanted to make a little film that told an emotional story with extremely stripped-down designs that, according to the geniuses in charge, were only good for yuks. But we managed to bring the audience to the brink of tears with a series of simple line drawings. And that, to me, is what makes character animation magic. Not to short-change the other elements of production - all are important to create the whole - but the actors are the eyes through which the audience experiences the story. (I hear a chorus of my peers yelling "DUH!!" right now.)
I have to take my hat off the the gang at Character Builders, who put as much passion into making this film as I did. They were a greatly underrated bunch back then and I am proud to have worked with them. Look how many ended up at Disney and Pixar!
Share
The Indescribable Nth with someone you love. But you're still on the hook for a Valentine's gift.
-Steve
The Indescribable Nth from Steve Moore on Vimeo.
