Nana korobi, Ya oki , an animated short film with original music and story by Glenna Burmer, was an award winner recently in four film festivals headquartered in New York, Tokyo and Avezzano, Italy. To date, the film has received more than 20 awards for Best Animation, Best Score and Outstanding Achievement from film festivals worldwide.
Its most recent awards are:
- Best Animated Short — New York Neorealism Film Awards
- Winner, Animated Short – Golden Short Film Festival, Italy
- Best Animation – Tokyo International Monthly Film Festival
- Best Inspirational Film – Stardust Films and Screenplays, New York
Nana korobi, Ya oki, or Seven Falls, is an inspirational story about having the courage and determination to overcome any obstacle in order to do the right thing, which in this case is to save an orphaned friend during a snowstorm. The film’s title is from a Japanese proverb which says: “Seven times you may fall, but get up the eighth.”
The film was created and produced by Glenna Burmer with assistance from artistic director Gaby Breiter of Deep Sky Studios in Portland, Oregon. The original music featuring woodwinds and strings was composed by Glenna Burmer, a composer and artist, and recorded by Dynamedion in Germany. Breiter was the principal animator on the film.
The dreamy animation style reflects sumi-e art, a Japanese artistic style that employs black ink and distinctive brush strokes. The style was chosen as a tribute to Burmer’s mother, who was a sumi-e artist. The animated video will be released later this year.
Glenna Burmer has produced live concerts, music and dance programs that feature original music, choreography and video. As president of Burmer Music LLC for the past decade, she produced six contemporary classical music CDs or music compilations, including three concerts at Benaroya Hall in Seattle and a ballet at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Wash.
Nana korobi, Ya oki is her first animated film.