Elephants Never Forget (2021)
Final Year Project
Concept
They say that elephants never forget, but what would happen if an elephant had dementia?
Elephants Never Forget is an animated short film that explores the topic of dementia and how it can affect individuals and those who care for them. The animation tells the story of an elephant wandering through the jungle alone. At first, this seems natural, however, the situation soon changes as confusion sets in. The audience experiences the world from the character’s point of view and what it is like being in a familiar environment that is suddenly unrecognisable. As the character is isolated for most of the animation, the viewer also experiences the character’s vulnerability and how easily the character can misinterpret situations.
Elephants Never Forget is an animated short film that explores the topic of dementia and how it can affect individuals and those who care for them. The animation tells the story of an elephant wandering through the jungle alone. At first, this seems natural, however, the situation soon changes as confusion sets in. The audience experiences the world from the character’s point of view and what it is like being in a familiar environment that is suddenly unrecognisable. As the character is isolated for most of the animation, the viewer also experiences the character’s vulnerability and how easily the character can misinterpret situations.
The forget-me-not flower is a symbol for remembrance which is associated with dementia, therefore, it is used to connect key moments of the story. The use of sketchy lines incorporates imperfection and embraces the unpredictable and spontaneous nature of dementia. The use of colour provides a contrast between reality and the reality of dementia, which is represented as being mainly grey.
Dementia is becoming a growing and more prevalent issue globally, with more and more people developing the disease over time. Within the general population, there is a lack of knowledge and awareness about dementia, which can unfortunately lead to the rise of unhelpful stereotypes. There is no known cure for dementia currently and the information that has been collected about dementia is somewhat limited, as there is still more research that must be done. This increases the importance of creating awareness, understanding and compassion for those who are affected by dementia and their families, carers and friends. This issue affects everyone in some way, and to cope with this disease, we must learn to rely on and support others.
Visual Reference Images
Concept Art
Storyboards
First Rough Storyboard Sketches
Final Storyboard
Animatic
Layouts and Background Design
Character Design
Colour
Process
