Lithuanian director Karolis Kveselis was inspired by the bright imagination of his younger siblings when he set out to make the new animated short, Just Imagine. Produced by animation veteran Mindaugas Jokubaitis and his talented team at OAK9 Entertainment, the CG-animated short centers on the friendship between a creative young girl and modest boy, who find escape from the challenges of the modern world by using their imagination.
“Just Imagine is a short film that delves into the power and influence of children’s imagination,” says Kveselis. “This is a theme we have wanted to explore for a long time, and as a new director, a short animated film was the perfect format for me. Once, while I was still searching for an angle for my idea, my young siblings came to visit. I had recently moved into a new place, which was far from perfect for young children. There were no colorful books, no toys, and no TV. Initially, I was a bit worried, but within 10-15 minutes, they transformed the apartment into an imaginary world. The table became a hut, the carpet turned into a meadow, one of them took on the role of a wolf and before I knew it, I was drawn into their imaginative play. I witnessed firsthand the magic of children’s imagination in action, and I ran with it.”
The director and his team began work on the short in late 2019 and worked on it intermittently for about four years. Many people from all over the world contributed to the project. “I’ve had an amazing team around me, who helped me to create the film vision,” notes Kveselis. “Our producer Mindaugas Jokubaitis, production designer Justas Gatelis, story artist Nerijus Civilis, animation Supervisors Alex Ferreira Simoes and Carina Henriksson and music composer Martin Bezjak were indispensable and without their help and the work of many others, this project would not become a reality.”
Kveselis, who is also co-directing OAK9’s acclaimed and innovative new preschool show Stomp! Stomp! Rhinos!, says he’s been fascinated by animation since childhood. “It all started when I discovered that you can turn old books into makeshift flipbooks,” he recalls. “Animation was the first medium that allowed me to realize any idea within my own abilities. That’s what’s amazing about animation: it offers endless creative possibilities to dream and wonder.”
Great Inspirations
The director mentions that throughout his teenage years, he was an avid fan of Japanese animated films. “I drew significant influence from the works of Satoshi Kon, Makoto Shinkai, the legendary Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata of Studio Ghibli. For this specific film, I also drew inspiration from Genndy Tartakovsky and contemporary Disney/Pixar movies.”
Ksevelis says he would like audiences to take a few key points to heart when they see Just Imagine. “Our daily lives can be more fascinating than we realize, and the secret lies in understanding that we don’t need much to achieve this,” he says. “All the tools we need are within us — we simply have to allow ourselves to use them. By tapping into our innate creativity and imagination, we can play and dream freely, inspiring others to liberate themselves and explore their own creativity!”
The director says he is quite excited that his short will soon begin screening in festivals around the world and that young viewers will be able to enjoy his labor of love in the months ahead.
For more info, visit oak9e.com
