The short film features music by frequent U2 collaborator Gavin Friday
The Max Original animated short film Peter & The Wolf debuts Thursday, October 19th. Based on the classic fairytale, the short film transforms Sergei Prokofiev’s beloved symphony into an enchanting and visually modern retelling, featuring music and narration by frequent U2 collaborator Gavin Friday and artwork based on original illustrations by Bono, from his book of the same name.
Featuring a special juxtaposition of traditional hand-drawn 2D animation combined with a physical set-built world, this reimagined classic tale follows a grieving 12-year-old Peter who is now in the care of his grandfather after enduring the loss of a parent. Upon hearing stories of a wolf on the loose, Peter decides to explore the vast meadow and forest nearby to try and find the wolf himself. Along the way he encounters creatures who help him on his quest while contending with hunters aiming to win a prize for capturing the wolf.
The uniquely creative project is led by musician and composer Gavin Friday, with The Friday Seezer Ensemble performing Prokofiev score, newly arranged by Maurice Seezer and Gavin Friday.
Peter & The Wolf is produced by BMG and Blink Industries and executive produced by Alistair Norbury & Stuart Souter for BMG, Benjamin Lole & James Stevenson Bretton at Blink Industries. Blink Industries’ Elliot Dear and Stephen McNally are directors, and the producer is Adriana Piasek-Wanski. BBC Studios is handling global distribution.
A soundtrack is slated to follow on Friday, October 20th. The 10 song set will be available on CD and 2 LP, along with digital components.
The project was originally developed in 2003 by Gavin Friday and Bono in support of Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF), a national charity supporting those facing dying, death and bereavement. IHF began with the aim to extend the availability of hospice services across the country and has now grown to develop programs in education, research and bereavement services. The Peter & the Wolf team has worked closely with Irish Hospice Foundation on this project, with IHF advising on how best to represent the story’s sensitive themes of bereavement and loss with authenticity and thoughtfulness.
To reflect the unique nature of the project Blink Industries developed a mixed media approach to the production of Peter & the Wolf that embraced the 2D roots of Bono’s original designs while creating a tangible, immersive and atmospheric world for Peter and his cohorts. The monochromatic rendering of the film adds to the timeless quality of the piece.
Working with their extensive team of model makers, directors Stephen McNally and Elliot Dear built and filmed all the environments as miniatures in their studio in London before seamlessly compositing the 2D hand-drawn character animation into the world. An ingenious interplay of the 2D drawings with light and shade from the physical world blends the interaction between animated characters and model-made environments.
