Aardman creates ‘Flight of the Stories’ film to mark the opening of IWM London’s new First World War Galleries

To mark the opening of new First World War Galleries at IWM London on 19 July and the wider centenary commemorations, Aardman has created a special short film Flight of the Stories, which will be screened online and in cinemas from today, 7 July.

Flight of the Stories depicts the journey of personal stories and letters written by those who never left the fields of Northern France during the First World War. ‘Quotation mark’ characters symbolising these stories emerge as lines are read from a selection of the thousands of letters and diaries entrusted to IWM by relatives during and after the First World War. As the voices gather, the bird-like characters join to form a flock, taking flight across Northern France and the English Channel, over London, and finally resting at IWM London ready to share their stories again, one hundred years on.

Aardman, widely known for its work on Wallace and Gromit, Creature Comforts and Morph, combined 2D illustrations and 3D CGI animation techniques to create a hybrid effect, bringing to life the bold landscapes and muted palettes of war artists from the era. This film has been created working alongside Johnny Fearless; the ad agency leading the museum’s reopening creative campaign.

Diane Lees, Director-General, IWM said; “Flight of the Stories captures exactly what we were trying to convey – for while it is true that some of the people never made it back from the fighting front, their stories have, and it is our duty at IWM to ensure that they continue to be told. This is what we will be doing in our new First World War Galleries, throughout the centenary and beyond. We do hope that the public will share this beautiful film as widely as possible and that they will be encouraged to reflect upon the stories of those who lived and died throughout the First World War.”

IWM London will reopen on 19 July, with new First World War Galleries, a transformed Atrium space and new exhibition Truth and Memory; British Art of the First World War. This £40 million transformation has been made possible with the support of a number of funders, sponsors, trusts, foundations and individuals, including a grant of £6.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £5million from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Flight of the Stories will be screened online and in cinemas from Monday 7 July.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertain.....-arts-28191261

the film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lZUTMS8uLA

http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london