The Heron in the Ink

Dream Storyboards · Sumi-e ink wash
The Heron in the Ink

0:00 / 1:05
An old calligrapher's brushstroke becomes a heron and flies away; he follows it through hills of wet ink to the edge of the paper.
style
Sumi-e ink wash
frames
13 key frames + 1 in-betweens
narration
1:05
Storyboard
  1. An old calligrapher kneels at his table, brush ready above a clean sheet.

    01 An old calligrapher kneels at his table, brush ready above a clean sheet.

  2. One stroke of wet ink, curving up into a hook.

    02 One stroke of wet ink, curving up into a hook.

  3. The stroke stands up: it is a heron.

    03 The stroke stands up: it is a heron.

  4. The heron flies out over the hills. He turns to watch it go.

    04 The heron flies out over the hills. He turns to watch it go.

  5. He climbs out of the window after it.

    05 He climbs out of the window after it.

  6. He walks into the ink hills; the heron flies on ahead.

    06 He walks into the ink hills; the heron flies on ahead.

  7. The heron lands on a pine. He stops on the path below it.

    07 The heron lands on a pine. He stops on the path below it.

  8. Where he steps, the path is wet ink under his bare feet.

    08 Where he steps, the path is wet ink under his bare feet.

  9. The painting stops at a hard edge: beyond it, blank paper. The heron waits there.

    09 The painting stops at a hard edge: beyond it, blank paper. The heron waits there.

  10. He reaches over the edge and paints a house on the blank paper.

    10 He reaches over the edge and paints a house on the blank paper.

  11. He sits in the doorway of the house he painted, the heron beside him.

    11 He sits in the doorway of the house he painted, the heron beside him.

  12. A red seal stamps itself in the corner: his name.

    12 A red seal stamps itself in the corner: his name.

  13. Back in the studio, nobody is at the table. On the desk lies the finished painting.

    13 Back in the studio, nobody is at the table. On the desk lies the finished painting.