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Branching Out by Sam Bedingfield

Animation students from the Norwich School Of Art And Design (NSAD) have created a series of short films to complement ´óÏó´«Ã½ Breathing Places, a project connecting people and wildlife across the UK.

The series of animations has been created as part of an on-going collaboration between the NSAD and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Norfolk website.

"This project was initiated by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ in Norwich, but we've devised the project between us and integrated that into the student year," said Suzie Hanna, senior animation lecturer at NSAD.

"The students are quite daunted by a live brief from somebody like the ´óÏó´«Ã½, particularly one like this one that has a whole narrative to deal with. But those who rise to the challenge produce work of a really high standard.

"The ´óÏó´«Ã½ not only briefs the students, but attends throughout the process and post-production. The students learn a huge amount from it," she added.

Breathing Places brings nature to life in a way that's accessible to all. From creating Breathing Places in a local area, to going on a wild walk.

Breathing Places 'Join Us'

"I wanted to create something that would appeal beyond the obvious gardening theme, but playing on the idea of gardeners having green fingers," said student Luke Travis.

Alien invasion

"A character walks through a city and spots all these people with green fingers and he thinks it could be aliens invading, but it turns out they are all gardeners.

"As a piece I wanted it to be entertaining and to make people aware of the Breathing Places project. I think every city needs a place to escape, now matter how big or busy it is," he added.

Animation student Ana-Marie Connelly took a personal approach to her film. As an asthma suffer, clean and green spaces play an important role in her life.

Breathe Easy

"I wanted to make a film about a character coming into a city where there's lots of smoke, who is then trying to find refuge in a roof-top garden where he can then 'Breathe Easy', said Ana-Marie.

"Having asthma is a pain. Being in a city the pollution can get into your lungs and you can be quite wheezy by the end of the night.

Breathe Easy by Ana-Marie Connelly

"It's just nice to have somewhere to go and relax like parks and green land," she added.

The films build on the idea that creating a new space is inspiring and transformational.

"They [the ´óÏó´«Ã½] don't come in saying 'You will do this for us', they say 'What's your idea about this'," said Suzie Hanna.

"The students can really follow their own line of enquiry and are highly supported by the ´óÏó´«Ã½ through the whole process. It's great for them. It's a really creative project," she added.

Ongoing partnership

"Breathing Places is such a huge initiative across the ´óÏó´«Ã½, it seemed the perfect project in which to work with the NSAD animation students in our ongoing partnership with the school," said ´óÏó´«Ã½ Norfolk content manager Martin Barber.

"The brief for these films was to show, through animation, a story about people creating, enjoying and maintaining a 'breathing place', somewhere in an urban environment that would bring people and nature together.

Airosol by Claire Rojek

"We've seen some really talented young people involved in these projects over the last few years and many have gone on to secure great jobs within the creative industries.

"Working with the ´óÏó´«Ã½ in this way certainly encourages the students to up their game, with some great results," he added.

Student Luke Travis agrees.

"Knowing that somebody like the ´óÏó´«Ã½ would show my work helped push me and to be more focused on what I wanted," said Luke.

"Because I knew more people would see this I wanted it to be exactly how I wanted it. It's given me such a great opportunity," he added.