Cardiff Animation Festival 2020 – The Yogi Walrus
A Journey of a little adventures Walrus Emi.
Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Marohnda Bay
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I'd previously published my story about Emi the Walrus as an illustrated book, but felt it would work even better as an animated film.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Because you won't EVER have seen a film about a young talking Walrus that's obsessed with ice-cream but then falls in love with Yoga.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Emi is a child, and her childishness - she doesn't know when to stop, or when she had enough - is something everyone can identify within a consumer society.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I had to develop the characters of all the animals that Emi meets on her travels - they each had to have a distinctive personality and voice to bring the animation to life, and to make them memorable.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
My film has been picked up by quite a few film festivals, and so far, I have received such positive feedback.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I certainly was surprised to hear from Film Festivals Jury that they would love to see my charming character Emi turned into a series. It somehow motivated me even more so.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
To reach a wider audience.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Producers, sales agents, buyers and distributors.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I hope that the audience can enjoy watching the film and can somehow relate with the character Emi.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
Everyone is like Emi. We all have an unhealthy relationship with SOMETHING - maybe it's ice-cream, chocolate....expensive shoes, driving your car too fast. It's good to ask ourselves why we do the things we do, and if we really SHOULD be doing some of those things.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I am working on developing a series of Emi's adventures.
Interview: May 2020
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
The Yogi Walrus
A Journey of a little adventures Walrus Emi.
Length: 4:20
Director: Marohnda Bay
Producer: Marohnda Ba
Writer: Marohnda Bayy
About the writer, director and producer:
MAROHNDA BAY is an Ethiopian-German writer and director based in London. She is currently developing a series of adventures of the character Walrus Emi.
Key cast: Lyla MCLeod (Emi), Tim Pritchett (MR Polar Bear), Karl Treacy (The Snowman), Jacob Willer (Maca)
Crew: Marohnda Bay (Writer/Director/Producer); Ioana Bogdana (Script editor); Tom Angell (Music); Evgenia Golubeva (Storyboard, character designer and animation director); Yulia Drobova (Background artist); Natalia Gabis, Sasha Lindberg, Kirill Voronzov, Evgenia Nikityuk and Lyubov Zimbalyuk (Animators /rigging /layout), Lyla McLeod, Karl Treacy, Tim Pritchett and Jacob Willer (Voice Cast)
Looking for: producers, distributors, sales agents, buyers
Facebook: Emi Walrus
Twitter: @yogiwalrus
Instagram: @yogiwalrusofficial
Hashtags used: #yogiwalrus
Website: yogiwalrus.com
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? Cardiff Animation Festival, Singapore International Children's Film Festival