Bottle

Long distance relationships are hard at the best of time, but for some it is much harder than for others.  This incredibly sweet (but please don't let that put you off) animation by Kirsten Lepore tracks the relationship between two individuals as they attempt to communicate over great distances.

The gap that separates them is not confined to simple geography, however, and should they decide to meet there are obstacles that are perhaps insurmountable in their way.

Quite rightly this animation that tells the story of the love affair between creatures made from sand and ice took first place 2010's Vimeo Awards Community Choice.  It tells a very simple tale but I can only imagine how difficult this must have been to make.  Not only is stop motion work for the very patient, doing it in the controlled environment of a studio is one thing.  Creating it outdoors when the vagaries of time and weather have their say too must have been akin to one of the challenges of Hercules.  Every second of this smart, very human film indicates that it must have very much been a labor of love.

If you would like to see more of Kirsten Lepore's work please visit her Vimeo page or, indeed her own website which has loads of information about her work as well as one of the cutest web site title banners that I have ever seen.

Isola San Giulio – Italy’s Fairy Tale Island

Image Credit Flickr User Seligr

Isola San Giulio is like something out of a fairy tale. The island situated on Lake Orta in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy is tiny – a mere 275 meters in length by 140 meters wide. A beautiful collection of lay and religious houses cram its tiny confines. It is so picturesque that it makes the jaw drop, almost in disbelief. It has an interesting story too.

Image Credit Flickr User elparainbow

Image Credit Flickr User buzzes.eu

Legend has it that St Guilio (or Julius of Novara in English) founded his one hundredth church here in the fourth century AD. It is just west of the charming village of Orta San Giulio (also named after Julius of Novara). The island was the lair of a giant serpent, which used the island as a launch pad to attack local villages. Yet St Guilio arrived and with his ability to command the waves he journeyed over the water on his cloak and banished the creature from the island.

Image Credit Flickr User Giovanna_Novara

Since then the island has always been connected with religion.  After St Giulio’s death a small chapel was erected on the island in the fifth century (this was after the Christian religion was decriminalized by the powers that be in Rome and persecution had ended). Archeology has revealed a much bigger church there in the sixth century.

Image Credit Flickr User elparainbow

Image Credit Flickr User batrax

A baptistery was also established in the middle of the island at about the same time. Yet in the nineteenth century a seminary was built there, erasing any record of its existence.  For the last three decades it has been a Benedictine monastery. There is an air of peace over the entire island, perhaps because of the presence of this contemplative institution.

Image Credit Flickr User CVEP

Image Credit Flickr User dirk huijssoon

Almost all who visit this miniature island are enthralled, but there is more to take pleasure in and admire here than stunning views and the appeal of an ancient Italian village. The church is a treasure house of art works covering a number of centuries. Plus the boat fare to the island is inexpensive.  Little wonder that many Italian couples choose this fairy tale destination to be the scene of their wedding.

Image Credit Flickr User elparainbow

Image Credit Flickr User elparainbow

A Short Love Story (in Stop Motion)

I have been meaning to post this up for an age because it is so wonderful, charming and extraordinarily well made.

A couple of pencil-outlined birds escape from a little girl´s drawing, leading us through the life of which she dreams. It was created by the amazingly talented Carlos Lascano.

If this has piqued your curiosity then you can find out more about how this beautiful animated short film was made by visiting Carlos Lascano’s website.

Forever Young

This is lovely.  An old woman reminisces about her youth, the love, the music, the energy – and is transported back to her heyday by the magic of memory.   There is little plot here – it is more of an animation of insight than of story – but the back plot is rich and it is easy to imagine a whole lifetime in just a few minutes.

This is a student film, made by Solveigh Jäger at the Media University of Stuttgart – so as such you have to forgive the rough edges as this was made on a miniscule budget.  Yet it is obvious that a great deal of care – no, love – has gone in to this project.  Thanks, Solveigh, for suggesting that we feature this – you should be exceptionally proud of your work!

This charming animated short will make you feel all warm and fuzzy, so if you are feeling a little low, give it a go!

Poetico Mecano - A Steampunk Love Story

An itinerant inventor strolls in to town and spies a young and beautiful washerwoman laboring over her daily duties. He sets about impressing her with a series of his inventions. Yet it must be admitted that none of them work terribly well, perhaps the reason then for his roving nature.

Will he win her heart? Well, woods and bears spring to mind but the passage of true love is never untroubled...

Created lovingly with more than a dash of steampunk sensibilities, Poetico Mecano is a brief but lovely animated short film. Enjoy!