We’ve stepped into the year of 2020 with the wrong foot: World War Three seemed imminent because of the Iran – America tension, Taal Volcano in the Philippines erupted and that meant the evacuation of residents within a 14-kilometer (8.7 mi) radius of the volcano, and the Puerto Rico earthquakes destroyed over 3,000 homes and killed two. And when we thought that we’d seen it all, another calamity came calling: the Australian bushfires — the most devastating blow of them all. The fires stole the lives of half a billion animals and killed at least 30 people.
God bless us because it looks like “Tomorrow’s on fire…”
Still, millions of people showed their kind side when faced with the fearsome disaster. Artists all around the globe have joined their efforts to help Australia overcome the ravaging situation that not only harms the ‘land Down Under’ but the whole world. It’s great to see that donations are coming from all corners of the globe. On top of that, there’s a lot of creative work that comes in to supports Australia. One of the most poignant comes from Australian director Darcy Prendergast in the form of a short animated video, “Tomorrow’s on Fire.”
AACTA and ARIA nominated director and animator, Darcy Prendergast — who is part of award-winning Melbourne production company Oh Yeah Wow and also known for his work with brands like Gotye, Boy & Bear, Greenday, Neil Young, and many others — has recently launched his new film that depicts the terrible situation that put thousands of Australians in jeopardy. Darcy’s beautifully rendered hand-drawn animation is narrated by a 7-year-old star, Miles M. The director also masterfully crafted the poem that nicely binds together the animated short.
“Like so many Australians I felt this malaise of helplessness. The footage of charred wildlife, displaced families and vibrant communities turned hellscapes, brought me to tears on numerous occasions. The project started as a way to process so much of that,” shares the director in a press release.
He later adds: “I knew for a predominantly online audience, it needed to be short and snappy… doubly so, given I was animating the entire thing solo. Animation is usually something done with large teams, so I had to approach it in an achievable way. I knew I was to be shooting in Bulgaria come January, so came up with a paired back, minimalistic style to fit the deadline.”
Yet, when asked about his expectations about the powerful piece, Prendergast gently says that he hopes his product turns into the “catalyst for positive change. I hope it sparks action from the politicians who are elected to serve us. So many Australians are angry and rightly so; we deserve better, we deserve hope… and so does our next generation.”
The project took seven weeks to finish and was made in collaboration with the director’s production company, Oh Yeah Wow. Prendergast’s “Tomorrow’s on Fire” shows a creative way of expressing how Australians feel right now, once fire took everything they had…
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