Glenna Burmer’s Nana korobi, Ya oki, won an award at the Golden Peacock International Film Festival in India. This short film tells the story of a young girl in Japan who overcomes seven trials to save an orphan during a snowstorm. The animated short 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 and recorded by Dynamedion in Germany.
This year, Burmer’s film has been recognized at film festivals in the U.S., Canada and India, receiving awards for best animation, best female composer and outstanding achievement. The film was also selected to be screened internationally at the London International Short Film Festival for 10 days in May. It will be released to the public this fall but you can view a 2-minute preview of Nana korobi, Ya oki on Vimeo.
Nana korobi, Ya oki uses a dreamy animation style that reflects sumi-e art, a Japanese artistic style which employs black ink and distinctive brush strokes. The style was chosen as a tribute to Burmer’s mother, who was a sumi-e artist.