Animation & Motion Design
Samantha O’Keeffe
Elephants Never Forget
They say that elephants never forget, but what would happen if an elephant had dementia?
Elephants Never Forget is an animated short film that explores the topic of dementia and how it can affect individuals and those who care for them. The animation tells the story of an elephant wandering through the jungle alone. At first, this seems natural, however, the situation soon changes as confusion sets in. The audience experiences the world from the character’s point of view and what it is like to be in a familiar environment that is suddenly unrecognisable. As the character is isolated for most of the animation, the viewer also experiences the character’s vulnerability and how easily the character can misinterpret situations.
The forget-me-not flower is a symbol for remembrance which is associated with dementia, therefore, it is used to connect key moments of the story. The use of sketchy lines incorporates imperfection and embraces the unpredictable and spontaneous nature of dementia. The use of colour provides a contrast between reality and the reality of dementia, which is represented as being mainly grey.