Engaging Families with TRADITIONAL Art through Animation

“The final animation fulfils the brief set and more. We are so happy with it and so are our audiences - we can tell from the smiles on the faces of our visitors who see it. ”

— Kerem Cetindamar, Digital Project Manager

CLIENT

Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, in collaboration with the National Gallery, aimed to engage family audiences with fine art. As part of the National Gallery’s 200th Anniversary celebrations, Leicester Museum will display Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s masterpiece “The Umbrellas” (c. 1886), one of the most famous artworks in the world.

BRIEF

To create a piece of animation to captivate and engage family audiences with Renoir’s iconic painting, “The Umbrellas.” Targeting museum visitors who don’t normally visit fine art exhibition the animation would bring the painting to life, drawing people into the space, making the art more accessible and inclusive for all, while highlighting the cultural heritage of the piece.

RESULTS

We created an enchanting animation titled Lost Amongst the Umbrellas, which follows a young girl as she loses her hoop amongst the bustling crowd of umbrellas in Paris. The story vividly brings Renoir’s painting to life, capturing the essence of the scene and making it relatable for families and children.

In this animated journey, the static image transforms as the young girl turns away from her mother, gets lost in the crowd, and ultimately finds her way back with the help of Renoir himself. The animation features colourful scenes inspired by the painting, appealing to both children and adults. By incorporating Renoir into the narrative, we provide viewers with a glimpse into the artist's creative process, showing him sketching the scene and interacting with the young girl. This not only enriches the story but also offers educational insights into how the masterpiece was created.

The film is situated in an intimate gallery space with Renoir’s painting. Playing on a loop with a short pause the animation allows viewers in the space to both enjoy the film and soak up the beauty of Renoir’s masterpiece.

The project not only succeeded in engaging families but also made painting more accessible and inclusive. It has been well-received by visitors and staff alike, contributing to the overall success of the 'National Treasures' exhibition.

Director and animator on the film, Jack, is also featured on the National Gallery audio guide for the exhibition through the Bloomberg Connects app.