To the Moon and Back is an animated short story that captivates audiences with whimsical delight.
As an animated adaptation of a children’s book concept, To the Moon and Back tells the story of a little girl who attaches balloons to a birthday card, sending it up into the air to her mom, an astronaut in space. With skillfully animated illustrations, compelling storytelling, and a masterful use of music and transitions, audiences are immersed into a cinematic world of childlike wonder. The video has been screened to various audiences of 25 people, receiving raving reviews expressing interest in the production of more short stories of the same vein.
Project Details
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A short-story illustrated animation with music and sound effects
Final duration: 0:00:01:07
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storyboard, music sourcing, animatic, procreate, after effects
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Music – "Escape" Hans Zimmer and Richard Harvey (feat. Camille) from The Little Prince - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2015), produced by WaterTower Music
Sound Effects – Youtube Audio Effects Library
Art Direction
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Contributing to the endearing quality of the animation, the illustrations were drawn to be a polished version of childlike drawings. Stylistically, I chose to use watercolor textures and a blend of primary and pastel colors, maintaining a light and whimsical tone even in the scenes that occur in darker environments.
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The short story begins with ambiguity, intriguing the viewer to ask questions about the story’s exposition. As the story progresses, the plot reveals the connections between the main character and the act of sending her mom’s letter into space.
Since the video contains no words, the script relies heavily on staging and thoughtful planning in order to communicate the storyline with clarity as the story progresses. Small scenes such as the view of the balloons from the airplane window, the panned out shot of the astronaut floating in space with the rocket ship, and the details of the girl’s bedroom all give context to the overarching storyline.
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Cinematic in nature, the animation takes the audience on a journey through the use of seamless transitions that activate a sense of dimensionality, zooming into objects and zooming out in a completely different environment.
Additionally, sound design plays a pivotal role in the emotional quality of the story. Edited to match moments of the story that needed to be expressed with more drama or wonderment, the selected song pulls at the audience’s heartstrings. The music was accompanied by subtle sound effects that made the animations feel more grounded and tangible as the viewer journeys through the story.
