Riley takes her kite out for some flying as the sun begins to set, when a loud, thunderous noise from above grabs her attention. Instantly forgetting all about her kite, she stares at the sky, unsure whether she feels awe or fear, as she witnesses the mysterious yet deadly flying machine.
Drawn and animated entirely on the 2nd Gen iPad Pro 12.9” (2017) using Procreate, and edited and composed on PC in DaVinci Resolve Studio and Fusion, Kite is an animated short film painted in vibrant tones. Its animation style is simple yet semi-realistic, featuring Riley (voiced by Victoria Kold-Larsen), a girl running with her kite in peaceful, idyllic landscapes. Experience the beauty of the Nebraskan open fields at dusk, a supersonic modern fighter jet, air-defense systems in action, a couple of explosions, and a fat squirrel.
First live screening was at WENIFF 2023 in Norway.
Trivia
Set in a fictional countryside resembling Nebraska, USA, Kite was originally meant to take place entirely in the afternoon.
The fighter jet can be seen executing an Immelmann maneuver, followed by a turn with an implemented roll.
The film was initially intended to have a more cartoony style, with a lighter tone during the early stages of development.
Semi-realistic animations and simple shapes were chosen for Riley’s character to complement her minimalistic surroundings.
Riley’s blue dress was selected to showcase the windy conditions through the fabric’s movement, rather than directly animating the visible wind.
