Happy Planet

Happy Planet is an animated short film about the beauty of life on earth. The film eliminates dialogue and speaks with its visuals and music. Much like life with its unexpected surprises, the flow of visuals in the film is organic. The interplay among the creatures or between the creatures and the environment in each shot creates the visual room and space for the next interplay. These visuals and the movement within them blend seamlessly alludes to the connected life that all we share. The film ends on a poignant note – a child’s hand appears on screen, requesting us humans to take responsibility for protecting and conserving our environment.

Happy Planet was the outcome of an animation workshop conducted by Dhimant Vyas for our animators, for many of whom it was their first foray into claymation. The concept and storyboard was done by the entire team, under Dhimant’s guidance and direction.

The setting and characters were created by the whole team working together, they are intentionally kept realistic or semi-realistic because the movement of the characters could not be made too exaggerated and cartoonish – considering they were made out of a rigid material. The characters are made out of clay – and are mostly relief work on glass. It was a challenge to give them a three-dimensional look on the screen. The team studied wild life videos for reference in character design, and to get a sense of timing for the character movement.

Each sequence was animated by a different animator. It was a challenge to link different animators’ ideas effectively and make smooth transitions between the sequences.

We hope you enjoy watching Happy Planet. Even more so, we hope the message in it impresses you enough to make you contribute your bit to make our planet happier.

(Happy Planet is a claymation (stop motion) film directed by Dhimant Vyas, Deputy Head – Animation at Tata Interactive Systems.)

Comments

[Bhavesh Sheth - Team BUDDYZ]

Dear Dhimantbhai & TEAM "HAPPY PLANET",

- I really enjoyed watching the film. It is so different, very touching & highly thought-provoking.

- Good-luck & special regards,

Bhavesh Sheth & TEAM BUDDYZ
Wednesday, 6th June 2007

[Arvind Tiwari]

Excellent creation. Many Salutes.

Apart from the fantastic music, All scenes were great - Tiger, Panda, Mountains, lotus & dragon fly, frog beneath the mushrooms, beetle, caterpillar turning to a butterfly, Hippopotamus, penguins.

[rajashri]

hello kaka,
Amazed!!! to see this art work...the best was the starfish it give the feeling of water(how!!!!???)...n hippos disappearing...missing being part of it :(...wish to have one workshop in J.J.....hope to see you soon...kaka.
You Rock!!!

[Binita]

Terrific! Will wait fr more! Congratulations to all.

[venkatbabulanka]

Amazing!!
...dhimath sir tooo good animation...and congratulation to dhimath....such a nice work...

[Subbi]

Hi Dhimant,

Cool stuff !!!! Very creative.
I wish i was a part of this TEAM too :-)

Regards
Subbi.

[Anand Shenoy]

Hi Mr.Dhimant and team, it's very inspiring work, especially youngsters like me.

Anand.

[Anjali]

Awesome... Concept and the whole work is incredible... Ur team actually made the planet a beautiful place to live in.. Amazing talent... The background chore was unbelievable good..

[Tushar Patil]

Dear kaka and all designers,
You have done Mind-blowing work for this "Happy Planet" Project. Good Concept with perfect music syncing. Especially I like the tiger drinking water and panda eating grass animation. That is amazing.

I missed you all of you guys. Keep doing...

[Vibhuti Pandya]

Fantastic work done by the whole team. Congratulations and wish you all the best for your colorful and bright future.

Regards,

Vibhuti Pandya
Birla Institute of Technology

[Anant]

Womderful work