Director Joe Chang Utilizes a Unique Animation Technique to Illustrate the Beauty of Birds

Posted By C. M. Rubin on Sep 1, 2021

By Rishi Mulloth

What is it about the nature of birds in nature that evokes this sense of peace and serenity? Maybe it’s the rhythmic flow of their calls, or the graceful fluttering of their wings, or maybe it is the hard-wired connection between humans and the natural world. Whatever the case is, Joe Chang’s (curated for Planet Classroom by KidsFirst!) animated short, “The Birds”, artistically displays this innate beauty within the bird kingdom and the tranquility of nature.  

Birds are often forgotten about in this world, flying about in the background of people’s lives, their chirps becoming background noise to modern day life. However, when someone takes the time to really see these creatures for what they are, their beauty is evident. Utilizing an experimental animation technique of washed ink, Chang’s abstract illustrations of birds and trees are unlike any other, with each image coming to life. The trees and birds don’t look ordinary, from their shape-shifting qualities and abstract forms, but through this, Chang shows the complexity behind nature. His morphing animations are distorted and bare, shifting throughout like the ever evolving natural world. The empty dialogue intensifies the sounds of the birds chirping and the hallucinatory images casting a trance on the viewer. It truly feels like an escape deep into the forest, and it creates a longing to be within this fantastic wonder and all that it brings. 

“The Birds” is a beautifully crafted piece that transports viewers to this psychedelic forest that highlights the very essence of nature and the magnificence of birds. Through their movement to their songs, they are animals that are often forgotten, but always in the background filling our lives with their musical chirps. I highly recommend this short film because of its mesmerizing production quality, immersive display of birds and nature, and recreation of a natural setting.

4.5/5

Rishi Mulloth is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in film and media studies and economics, and is attending the University of Scranton this fall for a master’s in business analytics. He is currently working on the production of the film Thanks to Her, and aspires to work in content acquisition.