Private Project

Above the Clouds

An ambitious owlet yearns to fly above the clouds despite
his shortcomings but keeps falling short, only to find that all he
needed was an unexpected glide down the mountainside

  • Alani Sanders
    Director
  • Emma Michelle Richmond
    Producer
  • Mackenzie "Mack" Gregory
    Art Director
  • Vrinda Vinod
    Crew
  • Bryan Reyes
    Crew
  • Ying Huang
    Crew
  • Haidyn Hawkins
    Crew
  • Lucy Le
    Crew
  • Jerilyn Tennison
    Crew
  • Sadie Lange
    Crew
  • Tyler Grow
    Score Composer
  • Sawyer Bisson
    Sound Effects Editor
  • Daniel Doan
    Sound Mixer
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes 53 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 13, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Savannah College of Art and Design
  • SCAD Savannah Student Animation Showcase
    Savannah
    United States
    May 30, 2024
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Alani Sanders

Alani Sanders is a rising animator and director from Greenville, South Carolina, known for her whimsical narratives and a fascination with birds and their ability to fly. Driven by her passion for learning and growth, Alani's ultimate goal was to create a challenging product that everyone could say they were happy to work on and grow from, creating fond memories with the team. As a persistent optimist, she is eagerly looking forward to future collaborations and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

For most birds, it is in their very nature to fly. From the moment they leave the nest, they are not only free to live independently but also free to explore the world from the clouds above. But if flying is their nature, what would happen if they were deprived of it?

As a young artist, I often looked up to those I admired and wondered, “How did they become so creative? There’s no way I could ever do that.” I felt hollow, never satisfied in my pursuit of growth. In my turmoil over my identity as an artist—if I was even an artist—my professor pulled me aside after reviewing some of my lackluster charcoal drawings and told me:

"I can tell you will never be truly happy unless you create."

This struggle is what inspired Percy - a barn owl who yearns to be somewhere he never knows if he can reach. I wanted a simple story that embodied my struggle to accept myself and my love of flight; a film that resonates with a period of growth in our lives as artists and conveys the message, “You are good enough.” Our goals may fluctuate, but one thing remains constant—as artists we must create.