Push & Pull
Hand painted ink, digital and stop motion animation, 15:04 minutes
Winner of best animation in the Modern Black & White Film Festival, Argentina, South America 2025
Winner of best animation in the Modern Black & White Film Festival, Argentina, South America 2025
Push & Pull is an animated short film exploring themes of the invisible, stillness, and the environment. Nature is represented by a nearly invisible being, performed by a dancer, who remains constant and unchanging. Characters made of paper interact with the being throughout the non-narrative story, symbolizing the cyclical passage of time. Together, they embody the push-and-pull relationship we share with nature amidst the busyness of life.
As animation creates motion from still images, photography captures a moment of stillness within motion. Push & Pull invited five community photographers to submit a photograph of a moment in nature that made them stand still. These photographs became the framework and setting to the piece.
Choreography: Sarah U
Performance and Composition: Matthew Ariaratnam
Photographers: Lindsay Wu, Aahana Rijal, Bicram Rijal, Bor Yan, Minerva Lee
This project was made possible through the support of Canada Council for the Arts
As animation creates motion from still images, photography captures a moment of stillness within motion. Push & Pull invited five community photographers to submit a photograph of a moment in nature that made them stand still. These photographs became the framework and setting to the piece.
Choreography: Sarah U
Performance and Composition: Matthew Ariaratnam
Photographers: Lindsay Wu, Aahana Rijal, Bicram Rijal, Bor Yan, Minerva Lee
This project was made possible through the support of Canada Council for the Arts
Animation trailer
Selected animation stills