Beyond the Window

A touching translation of the Peter Pan myth to the imaginary world of a young boy who is confined to his wheelchair.

With the starry sky as his only glimpse to the outside world, the boy spends all his waking hours staring out of the window in search of a falling star to make his long cherished wish come true: being freed of the bonds that keep him grounded. But when the heavens answer in the shape of a mysterious jester his unreal wish may have some very real consequences.

This is my cherished end of the year animation I made during the second year of my animation studies in 2006. Completing this lenghty piece ended me up with rsi for a while after having to complete it by myself alone and working on the entire process from intial idea, storyboard and final animation for six months. It was selected and screened at the Holland Animation Film Festival for the student selection and I've been very proud of concluding this effort with succes. And it even has a page now on IMDB! Also, I am proud to say it won a shared first prize at the HKU Animation Festival, a first time small school festival organized by students and it won a shared first prize at the Animation Festival in Zwolle 2008 in the student category. It has been screened in Finland, the USA and other festivals in the Netherlands.

There have been many versions of the storyboard and in the end I must say that one of those storyboard versions is in my opion the true version of the story. This is one vision and it leaves you free to imagine all what happens in the end. Those of you who have played the old video games NiGHTS into Dreams, might recognize the look and feel of the jester character to be inspired on my most cherished childhood videogame.

As a sidenote for those who wondered about it: the boy's name is Jonathan and the jester has been named Pan by Ashashi on the NiGHTS forum.

Also, I would like to thank all of you for commenting and sharing with me your thoughts, feelings and personal stories on this dear project of mine. The experience of creating this tale translates now beyond my own and builds a larger story with multiple endings, meanings, visions and dreams. I thank you for making this project worthwhile.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Marissa
• Delbressine
• Ealynn
• Animation
• Anime
• HKU
• Poetic
• Peter
• Pan
• NiGHTS
• into
• Dreams
• Student

[melimsah]

What is the music? Was it specifically written for this, or is it from something? It's beautiful, and this animation is amazing.

[Ealynn]

@melimsah yes, this was written especially for this animation as part of a joint school project where students in animation where paired up with students in composing.

[2hotinaz]

I don't understand this at all, really. Did he die? If so, did he think it was worth it to have a taste of freedom beyond what others n/ever have, and thus he died happy? I was expecting the last scene to show him awakening in his wheelchair, wondering if it had all been a dream, but this did not happen. Was the jester evil and killed him on purpose? Many more questions than answers, but beautiful and touching nonetheless. Beautiful job, and awards well-deserved. Kudos to you. You will go far.

[Ealynn]

@2hotinaz thank you. There were several versions of the storyboard, at first the jester was evil. In the final version he became the boys imagination, hopes and dreams personified that in the end slipped through his fingers. What exactly happened, I like to leave to everyones own imagination, as I keep hearing very different interpretations and I love to see how everyone builds out their own story with it.

[StaiNoGrey]

Very nice, but I was sure it was a girl..

[Ealynn]

@StaiNoGrey almost everyone is ><;;

[Junosensei]

I first saw this video back when you released it on youtube and again when I saw the NiGHTS website...

One thing led to another and I once again rediscovered this video tonight...

Let it be known that this video makes me cry every time I watch it. And it is one of my biggest inspirations as an artist, along with the NiGHTS games...

You have done good for me and I really thought you should know. I look forward to any more NiGHTS animations you ever intend to do in the future... ;~;

[Thismastermax]

Beautiful, It'est very great story. I like it. Thank for this vidéo ^.^

[fromchamberi]

Beautiful cartoon and story!!

[R0ckG1r7]

@Ealynn

I know the real story. I'm a huge NiD fan...

[lieslymota]

@klewis9995 how do you know they had no hearts? maybe they just didnt agree of the end

the only reason im defndeing is because this vidoe wasnt made to have any bad coments even if its not about the vid unless of course they really just didnt like it but how wld we know?

[ChopStickSoSushi]

@Ealynn I assumed it was a young boy, looks like one too, since from an artistic view point his eyes are masculine and have a hard edge were a girls would have a more sleek look to them (in my opinion).

I like the Jester he tried so hard to hang on to the boy at the end ... he tried :)

[MoonlightDewz]

@2hotinaz I thought the same thing: "He died!?". I didn't think that the jester was evil but I had that feeling that as soon as the boy changed into light he had died. At least it seemed to be a painless death. Although I agree with you, the animation and music was wonderful. ^_^

[adrianapreta2]

it's allways worth do have a dream....no matter if the end is good or bad.....if you dream, it means you are alive...and that's allways worth. Veryy inspiring! Thank you.

[klewis9995]

6 people have no hearts!

beautiful video btw! it reminds me of everyone who i knew that died.may they all R.I.P.

[walkingdan]

We found you from Truedantalion and Kelvinwontcry2.

[walkingdan]

Thank you for sharing this beatiful video, the video and music are so peaceful, seeing a wheelchair bounded child freed from his confinement is so emotional. My son Daniel has CP and is in a wheelchair also. He often look out the window, since he had to be homeschool. No one @his public school wanted him. I think this must be in every severely physically intellectually disabled child dream; to be able to do thing without limitation and judgments! .