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Hominidae

Hominidae depicts an ecosystem of x-ray visibility. Creatures have evolved in surprising ways, where humans, birds, spiders and frogs share unique anatomies. This experience follows an Arachnid Hominid, an intelligent creature with human and spider physiology, as she struggles to raise her young in a hostile environment. The story is told in five vignettes, from the birth of the children to the death of the mother in the teeth of her prey.

  • Brian Andrews
    Director
  • Brian Andrews
    Writer
  • Brian Andrews
    Producer
  • Phyllis E. Griffin
    Key Cast
    "Mother Arachnid"
  • Luis Antonio Mora
    Key Cast
    "Male Adolescent Arachnid"
  • Emily Weems
    Key Cast
    "Female Adolescent Arachnid"
  • Kidjie Boyer
    Key Cast
    "Mother Canine"
  • Austin Daly
    Key Cast
    "Hippopotamine"
  • John Ropiha
    Key Cast
    "Hippopotamine"
  • Oliver Sterling Angus
    Key Cast
    "Canine Pup"
  • Robert Steel
    Composer
    Edge of Alchemy, Junk Girl, 147 Pianos, Speed Dating, Sleepy Steve, Signals, Ten More, Reunion and The Mom Project.
  • Kahra-Scott James
    Sound Designer
  • JoAnne Zielinski
    Casting Director
  • Brian Ferguson
    Animation Supervisor
    Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Mulan, Fantasia 2000, and Winnie the Pooh.
  • Rodney Brett
    CG Supervisor
  • Thomas Miller
    Recording Engineer
  • Genres:
    Adventure, Family, Sci-Fi
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 41 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 4, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    33,600 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Sundance Film Festival
    Park City, Utah
    United States
    January 24, 2020
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Brian Andrews

Brian Andrews is an storyteller and visual technologist who produces media for the visual effects, animation, and fine art markets. His works have been exhibited at Le Marché du Film Festival de Cannes, Hong Kong Exhibitions Centre, the Queens Museum, and the California Academy of Sciences among many others. Currently he serves as the chair of Post-Production at DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts.

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Director Statement

Survival makes a species. Love makes a family.

Hominidae, a CG animated 360 film, depicts an ecosystem of x-ray visibility. Creatures have evolved in surprising ways, where humans, birds, spiders and frogs share unique anatomies. This experience follows an Arachnid Hominid, an intelligent creature with human and spider physiology, as she struggles to raise her young in a hostile environment. The story is told in five vignettes, from the birth of the children to the death of the mother in the teeth of her prey.

The diverse voice casts’ profound performances evoke the film’s humanistic themes, led by the celebrated stage performer Phyllis E. Griffin. Conceived and directed by Brian Andrews, animation was supervised by Walt Disney Animation Studios veteran Brian Ferguson with audio by award-winning 360 sound designer Kahra Scott-James and composer Rob Steel.

The creatures of Hominidae were first created in 2004 as a series of photo-composites built from human and veterinary x-ray films. Alternative human evolutionary possibilities were explored as radiographs of humanoid anatomies. Compositionally the images address the hominids with scientific lucidity, yet maintain an emotion of vulnerability as the figures betray the contradictions of their physicality. The series was exhibited internationally, including at SIGGRAPH, in the Hong Kong Exhibition Center, and at numerous galleries. Based on the photo-composites, a CG animated short Hominid was produced in 2012 telling a story driven by the transparent biology of the hominids. After premiering in the Electronic Theater at SIGGRAPH Asia, the film went viral in online distribution and film festivals, culminating in strong coverage in both the entertainment and scientific press.

Current developments in virtual reality technologies has inspired a return to the world of the hominid. The unique visual environment of Homindae is intrinsically suited to the immersive experience of virtual reality storytelling. As the embodied medium mirrors the visual transparency of the environment, viewers cultivate empathy with the humanity of the hominid’s life and struggle for survival.