The Whale Who Delivers the Mail

Dream Storyboards · Ukiyo-e woodblock print
The Whale Who Delivers the Mail

0:00 / 1:30
An old postman waiting on a fire-watch tower is swallowed by a whale that is a post office — and one letter inside is for him, from the boy he used to be.
style
Ukiyo-e woodblock print
frames
16 key frames + 7 in-betweens
narration
1:30
Storyboard
  1. Dawn over the rooftops. On top of the fire-watch tower, an old postman waits, his satchel empty.

    01 Dawn over the rooftops. On top of the fire-watch tower, an old postman waits, his satchel empty.

  2. He has been waiting a long time. Nothing comes.

    02 He has been waiting a long time. Nothing comes.

  3. Then something catches his eye.

    03 Then something catches his eye.

  4. Something enormous is moving beneath the clouds.

    04 Something enormous is moving beneath the clouds.

  5. A whale leaps out of the sea of clouds — as big as the tower, with a mailbag strapped to its side.

    05 A whale leaps out of the sea of clouds — as big as the tower, with a mailbag strapped to its side.

  6. It swims right up to the tower and stops beside him.

    06 It swims right up to the tower and stops beside him.

  7. It opens its mouth. Inside, a lantern is lit.

    07 It opens its mouth. Inside, a lantern is lit.

  8. He steps off the platform and walks into the light.

    08 He steps off the platform and walks into the light.

  9. Inside the whale is a post office: a hall of ribs and lanterns and letters — more letters than anyone could ever deliver.

    09 Inside the whale is a post office: a hall of ribs and lanterns and letters — more letters than anyone could ever deliver.

  10. Then all of them take off around him, like a flock of birds.

    10 Then all of them take off around him, like a flock of birds.

  11. One of them comes down, into his hands.

    11 One of them comes down, into his hands.

  12. An old envelope. On the front, a child has drawn a whale.

    12 An old envelope. On the front, a child has drawn a whale.

  13. He looks closer: the whale is carrying the mail — and there is a tiny postman riding on its back.

    13 He looks closer: the whale is carrying the mail — and there is a tiny postman riding on its back.

  14. He drew it when he was a boy.

    14 He drew it when he was a boy.

  15. Dusk. He is back on the tower. Far away, the whale swims on.

    15 Dusk. He is back on the tower. Far away, the whale swims on.

  16. He holds the drawing to his chest. Tomorrow he will be back up here, waiting.

    16 He holds the drawing to his chest. Tomorrow he will be back up here, waiting.