Haunted by a little thing, a man gets driven to the edge.
Interview
What was the starting point of DING ?
The script for the film is based on a short story I wrote. In this I describe a state of mental derailment in the form of a metaphorical abstraction. Supported by a rather funny character constellation full of contradictions and apparent role reversal, I knew that this is the material for an exciting and provocative animated film that can work above all through its high entertainment value. There are great feelings, action, humor. The metaphorical aspect is, that the THING (of course) isn't a real-life character. It’s a reflection of the inner condition of this man, with which he encounters an essential embodiment of his innermost fears, his impatience and anger. It’s his psychotic state, that chases him down the streets. It is also a symbol of how ridiculous our impulsive aggression and fears can be, and how terrible it can be when we allow ourselves to be drawn into actively acting on them.
To what extent would you say that limits (a very concise movie, with mute/quiet colors, a stripped down design) were a tool to give more weirdness to your story ?
Because the essence of the film is an inner conflict (it could also be something like a nightmare), the presentation concentrates on the essential characters. The design of the environment is inspired by the surroundings of my studio in the outskirts of Berlin. It really looks so barren and deserted there and from time to time such guys come around the corner. I have chosen the colors so lovely as it supports the mixture of delight and horror.
How did you develop your characters? What was your focus?
In terms of character design, it was a bit difficult to find an embodiment for the thing, since a thing can't be concretized by something that is generally known. In the first drafts it was even hairy. But I found that inappropriate because it had something animalistic about it and I didn't want to make a nature film. It also had to be avoided that it seemed too human. That's why I gave the thing inhuman properties, such as growing hair and eyes when aroused. In the end, this cartoonish character came out of it. I thought that was quite appropriate, since there are various cartoon characters that are supposed to represent something like a friend, but which triggered pure horror in me even as a child. It also had to be cute, with Mickey Mouse ears and big googly eyes that would send the viewer into a blissful state of euphoria. Letting those feelings spill into horror struck me as a great concept for a little horror. Finally, to express all this, the animation was a big challenge.
Can you tell us more about your use of sound and music in DING ?
The music, used sparingly, was intended to convey a sense of paranoid action. The sounds of movement of the characters are also important, as they make the timing and action more accentuated.
(Interview questions by Testkammer and Le Polyester)
AWARDS
BEST ANIMATED SHORT Fest Anča International Animation Festival 2022, Slovakia
SPECIAL JURY AWARD ANIMAFEST ZAGREB - World Festival of Animated Film 2022, Croatia
Grand Prix Animation Short Film Tatsuno International Film Festival 2022, Japan
Manfredo Manfredi Award for the film that gives place to doubt Sardinia Film Festival 2022, Italy Honorable Mention 7th Annual Florida Animation Festival 2022, USA