Animation & Motion Design
Elaine Buckley
Stone Chandelier
‘Stone Chandelier’ is a digitally hand-drawn expression of a character’s evolving aspirations. At a time of global demoralisation, much of our society is overcome by materialism, the need for approval and the quest for instant gratification. It is these challenges to our moral compass that set the scene for the concept and narrative of this animated short.
‘Stone Chandelier’ follows the growth of a character from a boisterous toddler to a fragile elder. It explores the inner struggle between her conscience and ambition, relative to the artifice of society. We observe the character’s developing aspirations personified by the expansion of a balloon. Simultaneously we witness the psychological burden mounting on the maturing character as she attempts to persevere through the temptation of materialistic enticements. Her energy becomes increasingly fraught and eventually the motivations for her pursuit are exposed as wealth, power, lust and greed.
As the animation comes to an end, we see the toil these seductions have taken on her. The character is consumed by her final accomplishment. Notwithstanding this, it is for the viewer to decide whether the character has ascertained fulfillment or conversely whether she is incompatible with the trappings of success.