Ebb & Flow

By Stefan's Team

Description: A little story about helping each other.

K
Kaitlyn---
Good job creating a story with very little dialogue and challenging yourself by using just your boards, sound affects and music. I liked how the characters used their differences to help one another. For example, since the tortoise is a land turtle it did its best to aid the pink turtle across the treacherous beach towards the ocean. But once the ocean engulfed the tortoise, the pink turtle helped it back ashore. It's a great depiction of how our differences can be useful. I was surprised to see that the tortoise smashed the glass while making his way along the beach. It seems a bit dangerous and I thought It would perhaps make more sense to have him just go around these sharp objects. I enjoyed the dramatic effects you included when revealing the litter on the beach. The music and shot design expressed the real threat that these objects possessed. Overall, good job at creating a compelling story about two animals who used their differences to help each other.
S
Stefan---
Thank you, Kaitlyn! I understand that smashing the glass looks a bit dangerous. I was thinking of first showing that Ebb is much stronger than normal turtles, but then I would have to show a lot more in the first act of the story, so I cut it out. I think if I make it a real animated short, I'll have him smash cans and run around the glass.
A
Anona---
This is such a sweet story! The way you brought out so many themes (perseverance, everyone has their own strengths, we are stronger when we help each other) was so well done. I also love the way you chose to illustrate this. Its detailed and simplistic all at once. Amazing job!
S
Stefan---
Thankyou Anona! I like it when a story is as simple as possible :)
S
Sofya---
I find the story and the characters very adorable. It tells a lot about differences but also how we can help each other because of them and still be friends. It's a good thing the story doesn't have actual words. But personally some moment for me were a little slow-paced and I'd prefer shorter cuts. One thing I'd consider is adding a bit of Ebb's story, so we know when he hatched and what like life was for him before meeting Flow.
S
Stefan---
Thank you, Sofia! The slow paced moments are because the turtles in the real film will move slowly. Some moments are also slow paced because I want to show small changes in the way they look in the eye movement. That's something I couldn't really show right now, but will in the final animated short film. About adding a bit of Ebb's story: I was thinking of an idea to show that Ebb accidentally breaks a lot of things because he has big feet or is just a bit clumsy and that's why the other turtles/animals didn't really like him. But that when he met Flow he finally felt accepted because he could help her with his strength. But I think it would make the story longer and then I had to introduce other characters too, so I chose to leave it out for now.
M
Mark---
Stefan, I have said it many times, but I love this film! Congratulations on this feat. I enjoyed watching every frame of this beautiful short, and it felt like I was in my seat at the theatre right before watching a Pixar film. One of the best shorts I have ever seen.
S
Stefan---
Thank you for your kind words Mark!
A
Annika---
Cool, the motions that you've added really express the emotion of the story very accurately.
S
Stefan---
Thanks Annika!