Pearl and Pomegranate
Erin Reall
Norwich University of the Arts
My graduate animated short film ‘Pearl and Pomegranate’ follows the journey of a young woman on a quest to retrieve Neptune’s lost oyster shell in an ancient mythical world. Ancient Greek and Roman history and myths of heroes, gods, and monsters inspired me alongside museums and my travels to the Pompeii and Herculaneum archaeological sites in Italy. I researched Greek tragedies such as ‘Prometheus Bound’ and ‘Agamemnon’ when writing the script. I highlight the ocean throughout the project, motivated from my love for the local Norfolk coastline. As I am passionate about working in illustration, I focussed on background design with an aim for every still frame to look like a finished illustration. I used repurposed textiles and hand-made the cordage using yarn and Dahlia leaves to incorporate sustainable practices within the project. I incorporated linocut, intaglio drypoint and cyanotype printmaking into the animation. I collaborated with student voice actors to bring my characters to life. Through combining physical and digital animation, I pushed my creative practice further and demonstrated the need for the physicality of my artwork.