The Raven & The Whale

When swallowed by a great Whale, a curious Raven encounters the unexpected – revealing a deeper understanding of himself and the world he thought he knew.

The tradition of passing down stories is present across almost every single culture. Deeply rooted within Inuit Native American culture, the Raven is said to be the creator of all life as well as our world. Many stories exist of his presence in the world, and how he has helped shape it to be. The Story of the Raven and the Whale is one of these stories, and has been retold over the course of our existence. Retold in the modern world as a story by Laura Simms, The Raven and the Whale tells a story of loss and greed of the Raven. With my Thesis for my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, I am bringing this folktale into a new medium with my own take on it, and how I can insert myself into a bigger discussion. I hope that with my thesis, I am able to bring a story of Inuit Native American Culture to those who are unaware.

My animation uses the changing of mediums to introduce new worlds and concepts. The medium switch acts as an immersion into a new perspective. The Raven is believed to be the creator of all, but when he is swallowed, the world transforms, placing him in an unfamiliar realm that he does not remember creating. The Raven’s emergence into this new world parallels my desire to learn more about my heritage and learning of the past of the Inuit people.