IMO | Day of the Seafarers

On 07, Sep 2014 | In Press | By Pip

Trunk animation’s Alasdair + Jock create a beautiful short for IMO’s “Day of the Seafarer”

Each year more than 12 billion tons of freight is shipped around the world. That’s 90% of all household goods as well as over 2 billion tons of fuel and that’s even before we get to all the grain and food! Trunk’s director’s Alasdair Brotherston + Jock Mooney have been on this factual journey, whilst creating a short about ‘Day of the Seafarer’ which falls on the 25^th June. The minute long film is pure Alasdair + Jock. Initially taking inspiration from the beautiful illustrations of Charley Harper and iconic 1920’s and 30’s travel posters the work quickly evolved into a more painterly hybrid style that sits between the two sources.

Jock noted, “ We loved working on the project not only as it was for such a good cause but the IMO (International Maritime Organization) gave me and Alasdair a lot of creative freedom, allowing us to build on the style we had evolved creating our short “Gelato go Home”. We used the same brilliant composer James Orman who produced a soundtrack just the right side of Dire Straits and Barnaby Templer at Fonic who once again created the sound design. Alasdair introduced some lovely cuts and wipes my personal favourite was seeing the icebergs turn into the cat’s ears!”

The film is a visual journey that makes subtle connections between all the things we take for granted, from bread to rubber ducks, to the seafarers who risk their lives to deliver them. The last shot shows an entire town lit with the message “Thank You”. Alasdair stated “ We worked hard to get the balance right throughout the film so that it wasn’t patronising or too gushing we wanted to show the reality of the situation, all be it with a big dollop of artistic licence.”

The beautiful short reads like a panel book with each shot being perfectly composed and balanced, a subtle and detailed use of colour ties the short together. Remember the 25^th of June the Day of the Seafarers it’s a great tribute to the 1.5 million seafarers who ply their trade to keep the world’s commerce and industry a float!

Click below for press coverage:-

Animation Magazine Eu

Animation World Network

Credits: –

Directed by Alasdair + Jock

Producer Richard Barnett