The Orphan Boy is an animated version of a traditional dreamtime story describing what happens when a young boy's crying wakes the Rainbow Serpent from her sleep. This story belongs to the Kunwinjku People of western Arnhemland, Australia.
The Orphan Boy production was created by students from Gunbalanya Community School, with animators from Gozer Media. Gunbalanya is an Aboriginal community situated in western Arnhemland, Australia.
The students from Namarrkon Class planned and created the animation, as part of a class project, with visiting animators, Shamus Hoare, James Armstrong and Andy Lewis. The students an animators designed and built the sets and characters together, then animated each scene. The students were involved in creating the narration, sound effects, and filming a documentary about the making of the film. The script and set development was directed by elders within the community. The project was completed over a period of one month, and was one part of a larger project looking at ways to increase both attendance and literacy within the school and to create engaging cultural archival media.
The orphan boy lives with his tribe in western Arnhemland. When the tribe run out of his favorite food, Water Lilly Root, the orphan boy begins to cry. The old people try to keep him happy by giving him other types of bush food, but he does not like them, so he keeps on crying. When the sound of his crying wakes the Rainbow Serpent a series of events unfold that lead us through the creation of some Dreaming places special to the Kunwinjku People.
Stories from the Dreamtime have been passed from generation to generation within Australian indigenous communities. The Orphan Boy attempts to illustrate how deeply these stories can link the people to the land.
Orphan Boy (2004 / 4 mins / Animation)
Directors: Shamus Hoare, James Armstrong & Andy Lewis (Gozer Media)
Cultural Direction: Julie Narndal, Marlene Burrunali, Rose Nabobbob & Grace Nawirridj.
Producer: Gozer Media
Country: Australia (in English)
