Floor Thirteen

Dream Storyboards · 1950s UPA limited animation
Floor Thirteen

0:00 / 2:00
On his last night, a strict hotel lift operator meets a small girl with a red balloon who wants floor thirteen, the floor that isn't there.
style
1950s UPA limited animation
frames
18 key frames + 8 in-betweens
narration
2:00
Storyboard
  1. Inside the lift: Mr. Pell stands stiffly at his post, the doors shut; a portrait of an old operator hangs above the button panel.

    01 Inside the lift: Mr. Pell stands stiffly at his post, the doors shut; a portrait of an old operator hangs above the button panel.

  2. Close on the panel: 11, 12, 14, and an empty socket where 13 should be; above it, the old operator's portrait, a small red balloon floating beside him.

    02 Close on the panel: 11, 12, 14, and an empty socket where 13 should be; above it, the old operator's portrait, a small red balloon floating beside him.

  3. A small girl in a yellow coat steps in at the open doors, holding a red balloon.

    03 A small girl in a yellow coat steps in at the open doors, holding a red balloon.

  4. Ada points up at the panel; Mr. Pell folds his arms.

    04 Ada points up at the panel; Mr. Pell folds his arms.

  5. Ada presses the lower buttons; floors 2 to 8 light up.

    05 Ada presses the lower buttons; floors 2 to 8 light up.

  6. Floor 4: a hotel laundry in chaos, sheets flying.

    06 Floor 4: a hotel laundry in chaos, sheets flying.

  7. Mrs. Grange stands in the lift, jabbing a finger down at the floor; button 1 lit.

    07 Mrs. Grange stands in the lift, jabbing a finger down at the floor; button 1 lit.

  8. Ada looks up at the portrait and opens her hand; the red balloon rises beside her.

    08 Ada looks up at the portrait and opens her hand; the red balloon rises beside her.

  9. Close: a 13 button glows in the empty socket.

    09 Close: a 13 button glows in the empty socket.

  10. The doors open onto a rooftop at night, an empty stool with a maroon cap on it. Mr. Pell stares, open-mouthed; Mrs. Grange puts a hand to her chest; Ada clasps her hands in delight.

    10 The doors open onto a rooftop at night, an empty stool with a maroon cap on it. Mr. Pell stares, open-mouthed; Mrs. Grange puts a hand to her chest; Ada clasps her hands in delight.

  11. Mr. Pell holds his cap to his chest and looks up at the portrait of the old operator; Ada smiles up at it too; Mrs. Grange folds her hands.

    11 Mr. Pell holds his cap to his chest and looks up at the portrait of the old operator; Ada smiles up at it too; Mrs. Grange folds her hands.

  12. Mr. Pell, his cap in one hand, holds the balloon out to Ada by its string; the balloon floats over her raised hand, the string at her fingertips.

    12 Mr. Pell, his cap in one hand, holds the balloon out to Ada by its string; the balloon floats over her raised hand, the string at her fingertips.

  13. Mr. Pell and Ada step out onto the roof, hand in hand.

    13 Mr. Pell and Ada step out onto the roof, hand in hand.

  14. On the roof: Ada rests her hand on the cap, the red balloon tied to the stool; Mr. Pell watches, his own cap behind his back.

    14 On the roof: Ada rests her hand on the cap, the red balloon tied to the stool; Mr. Pell watches, his own cap behind his back.

  15. Mrs. Grange holds the door with a soft smile; out on the roof, Mr. Pell and Ada stand hand in hand by the stool, the red balloon tied to it.

    15 Mrs. Grange holds the door with a soft smile; out on the roof, Mr. Pell and Ada stand hand in hand by the stool, the red balloon tied to it.

  16. Back at the lobby, Mrs. Grange walks Ada out to her waiting parents.

    16 Back at the lobby, Mrs. Grange walks Ada out to her waiting parents.

  17. Mr. Pell alone at his post, the doors shut, smiling a small smile; on the panel, a 13 glows.

    17 Mr. Pell alone at his post, the doors shut, smiling a small smile; on the panel, a 13 glows.

  18. Close on the panel: Mr. Pell's white glove rests beside the glowing 13, under the old operator's portrait.

    18 Close on the panel: Mr. Pell's white glove rests beside the glowing 13, under the old operator's portrait.