Yokaitopia, the newest animated short film from Glenna Burmer, was selected for two Best Animation awards in June – one from New York Film & Cinematography and the other from the Symbiotic Film Festival. Yokaitopia was also a winner for Best Fantasy film at New York Film and Cinematography.
The New York Film & Cinematography festival focuses on technical design, tone, script, and attention to detail, among other elements. Jurors are producers, filmmakers and entrepreneurs who are passionate about recognizing talent and seeking out the world’s top films for recognition.
Yokaitopia tells the story of a boy who crosses over into the supernatural world of Yokai — mysterious Japanese spirits that inhabit all people, objects and places. In a secluded house at the edge of a forest, he finds broken toys trapped inside by a snow demon. He repairs them and then outwits the demon, breaking the spell and freeing the toys. This act of kindness will have unexpected lifelong ramifications.
Watch the trailer here.
The animated short is the third film produced by the multi-award-winning collaboration between Glenna Burmer and the animation studio Deep Sky. Unlike most films where the music is composed after filming ends, Burmer’s original music drives the plot. In her creative process, she envisions the storyline, composes the music to relay that narrative, and creates its distinctive characters, then brings it to the animation studio to visually translate the music’s style and atmosphere.
Deep Sky’s creative team, led by art and animation director Gaby West and creative director Barret Thompson, blended visual effects, lush colors and innovative graphics to provide a visual experience that perfectly captures the supernatural world of Yokai.