Joseph Coleman ‘11_Animation
The Sacred Task
For my senior project, I want to portray the inner struggle with one's own dark nature in an animated short. The story involves a young warrior that finds himself at war with an evil entity of his own inadvertent creation. The creature is the manifestation of the protagonist's malice. With his demon growing ever stronger, the weary warrior must make a last stand on the battlefield of his crumbling conscience.
The story will serve as an allegory for the ordeal that we must all face in life. There are personal trials that we must go through in order to become better individuals. I drew upon Native American mythology as inspiration for my story. I chose this culture because, though tales vary from differing tribes, the common belief is of the universal harmony between man, spirit, and nature. In the film, a mysterious owl appears before the shaman with unknown intentions. The owl is an amalgamation of the beliefs of Pawnee tribe, who view the animals as protection; the Pueblo, who associates them with death; and the Sioux, who believed that possession of the owl’s feather or “essence” will bless them on the battle field. Under the shamanic system, the owl acts as the totem of the young protagonist. Though not physically active in the fight between the two opposing figures, what the owl symbolizes holds great spiritual significance.
Owls see the truth through the darkness that shrouds one’s path. When an individual is lost, the spirit of the owl will guide him. Death often awaits those who follow the creature. The owl knows that death is the key to rebirth. Life is renewed when one clears away all unwanted burdens. Only when the shaman conquers his inner demon will he truly be free.
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