The Raven and the Lamp

Dream Storyboards · Inuit stonecut print (Cape Dorset)
The Raven and the Lamp

0:00 / 1:36
In the long night, a girl lets her grandmother's lamp burn too high, a raven steals the flame, and the fire he cannot hold becomes the northern lights.
style
Inuit stonecut print (Cape Dorset)
frames
14 key frames + 9 in-betweens
narration
1:36
Storyboard
  1. Inside a snow house at night: Anaana and Nuka sit on either side of a black stone lamp with a low, even row of small flames; a thin stick lies on the lamp's block.

    01 Inside a snow house at night: Anaana and Nuka sit on either side of a black stone lamp with a low, even row of small flames; a thin stick lies on the lamp's block.

  2. Closer: Anaana holds the thin stick to the wick, its tip among the first small flames, while Nuka watches.

    02 Closer: Anaana holds the thin stick to the wick, its tip among the first small flames, while Nuka watches.

  3. A raven's head looks in through the round ice window, its beak pointed down at the lamp.

    03 A raven's head looks in through the round ice window, its beak pointed down at the lamp.

  4. Later: Anaana lies asleep on the fur platform; Nuka sits alone by the lamp, the stick back on its block.

    04 Later: Anaana lies asleep on the fur platform; Nuka sits alone by the lamp, the stick back on its block.

  5. The flames stand three times as tall in an even row and the whole room glows orange.

    05 The flames stand three times as tall in an even row and the whole room glows orange.

  6. The raven flies up with the fire held in front of its beak; the lamp is dark but for one red coal, and the room has gone dark.

    06 The raven flies up with the fire held in front of its beak; the lamp is dark but for one red coal, and the room has gone dark.

  7. Outside under the stars: Nuka runs across the snow hugging the dark lamp, the raven flying ahead with the fire held in its beak.

    07 Outside under the stars: Nuka runs across the snow hugging the dark lamp, the raven flying ahead with the fire held in its beak.

  8. The raven is high and small, the fire in its beak as big as itself.

    08 The raven is high and small, the fire in its beak as big as itself.

  9. Nuka stops and looks up at the ribbons of light; the raven falls head-down, beak empty, feathers loose.

    09 Nuka stops and looks up at the ribbons of light; the raven falls head-down, beak empty, feathers loose.

  10. Closer: the raven stands hunched in the snow in front of Nuka, head hanging; she stands hugging the lamp, its coal glowing, and looks at him.

    10 Closer: the raven stands hunched in the snow in front of Nuka, head hanging; she stands hugging the lamp, its coal glowing, and looks at him.

  11. Nuka walks home toward the igloo hugging the lamp; the raven's head peeks out of the pouch on the back of her parka.

    11 Nuka walks home toward the igloo hugging the lamp; the raven's head peeks out of the pouch on the back of her parka.

  12. The wick catches: a low, even row of small flames, and the room is light again.

    12 The wick catches: a low, even row of small flames, and the room is light again.

  13. Anaana wakes, props herself up and smiles at the lamp; Nuka holds the stick; the raven, awake, warms itself in the lamp's glow.

    13 Anaana wakes, props herself up and smiles at the lamp; Nuka holds the stick; the raven, awake, warms itself in the lamp's glow.

  14. The first picture again: Anaana and Nuka by the low flames — but now the stick is in Nuka's hands, the raven sleeps settled in the lamp's glow, and the northern lights fill the window.

    14 The first picture again: Anaana and Nuka by the low flames — but now the stick is in Nuka's hands, the raven sleeps settled in the lamp's glow, and the northern lights fill the window.