The Vancouver Opera and librettist Shane Koyczan invited Giant Ant to collaborate on “Stickboy”, a new opera that tackles the psychological effects of bullying.
We had never worked with projections, long-form animation or live performance (not to mention opera!) before, so of course we said: yes please!
Ten months later, our work is being projected over three massive screens, illustrating over 40 background settings and dark inner-workings of the main character in a 2-hour long stage performance called Stickboy.
Giant Ant’s animations are synced with the lyrics and projected onto screens above the stage during the live performances. This trailer shows the basic setup.
On top of that, street artists were invited to create murals illustrating their vision of the subject.
You can see the opera live in Vancouver until November 7.
Credits
A collaboration with Shane Koyzcan and Vancouver Opera
Creative Direction: Leah Nelson, Jorge R. Canedo Estrada & Henrique Barone
Producer: Teresa Toews
Art Direction: Jorge R. Canedo Estrada
Concept and Storyboard: Jorge R. Canedo Estrada, Henrique Barone & Leah Nelson with help from Rachel Peake & Shane Koyzcan
Design: Henrique Barone, Lucas Brooking, Jorge R. Canedo Estrada, Gergely Wootsch & Shawn Hight
Animation: Jorge R. Canedo Estrada, Henrique Barone, Shawn Hight, Nicholas Ferreira, Marisabel Fernandez
Animation Montage:
Voiceover: Shane Koyczan
Music: Hand Covers Bruise, Reprise by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
Edit: Jorge R. Canedo Estrada