Handmade
Project details
- Year
- 2023
- In collaboration with:
- Nicole Lewis
- Programme
- Bachelor – Animation
- Practices
- social
- Minor
- Cultural Diversity
Handmade is a story of a young man coming out to himself through honoring a femininity that was never his own. This 2D animated short film is a collaboration between Anthony Granick and Nicole Lewis with the aim of creating a sweet piece of representation otherwise not made about transgender individuals.
The Importance of Representation
Handmade started out as a desire to see representation of people like me in more mediums. As a transgender man I struggled to think of any fictional figures who had gone through the same experiences as myself. I started drafting a story about a transgender man giving his girlhood away to something else in order to make room within himself to move on and transition. I pitched this story to Nicole Lewis and started creating the visuals for the film once she was on board.
In a world where representation of transgender individuals is dominated by documentary filmmaking or dramas in which we are brutalized, it was important for me to make a slow, safe story. We felt that focusing on any trauma that Indigo (the main character) has experienced would conform to the existing narrative of transgender life.
Art Directing
As the art director for this film I focused on creating the visuals that establish the emotional impact of Indigo’s transition. Early on I decided that I’d show Indigo’s growth through his apartment, as well as his physical appearance. Lights get softer warmer, shadows less imposing. As he grows more confident, his space becomes more cluttered and full, reflecting how he is able to feel at home in his environment and body.
It’s important for Indigo to remain relatable through his simplicity, maybe a young transman will see himself in Indigo and feel less alone.
What’s Next?
As a continuation of my practice I intend to create more works that focus on transgender characters, hopefully collaborating with people who have a passion for seeing themselves. To achieve this I am running workshops at the Queer Rotterdam and publishing shorter works online.