Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now

Felt Right Then, Feels Right Now depicts the childhood memory of Blyth trying on his father’s boxers at age eight, before leaving for Brownies still wearing them under his uniform. This memory is one of many that have contributed to Blyth understanding that his gender identity did not align with the sex he was assigned at birth, leading to the artist coming out as transgender at eighteen. The artist intends for this to be the first of many animations in a series titled Defining Moments of a Trans Experience, which will portray Blyth’s experiences pre and post transitioning from female to male that contribute to his continued understanding of the fluidity of gender.
The animation consists of 728 unique cels, shot at a rate of 24 frames per second. It was hand-drawn using fine-liners and colouring pencils, using a live-action video for reference of the artist’s eight-year-old sister trying on a similar pair of boxers to that which he remembers. The audio accompanying the animation is from the live-action reference and features the voices of Blyth’s parents, bringing a personal reality to the animation of this intimate moment.

  • Ashton Blyth
    Director
  • Ashton Blyth
    Writer
  • Ashton Blyth
    Animator
  • Ashton Blyth
    Producer
  • George Clear
    Editor
  • David Blyth
    Key Cast
    "Dad"
  • Darcie Blyth
    Key Cast
    "Alyssa"
  • Naomi Blyth
    Key Cast
    "Mum"
  • Ashton Blyth
    Key Cast
    "Ashton"
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 7, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    60 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Staffordshire University
Director Biography - Ashton Blyth

Ashton Blyth is a UK-based FtM transgender artist whose practice investigates the theme of identity, most recently conveying his themes through animations. With his work, he aims to create artworks that question the rules and restraints society lays out for us in regards to our personal identity - in order to challenge and create new ways to represent the constant evolution of gender in society.

Identity is an ideological construct created by society, our identity is formed by what tick boxes we fit that society hands us. When you look at a portrait artist’s work, it’s a fixed and permanent view of somebody’s identity. In the modern world, it’s more fluid and non-binary, and this should be represented not only in society, but in art as well. Society’s viewpoints on gender, sexuality, race, religion etc. are changing, and that needs to be showcased more – which is what Blyth intends to do so with his own work.

Throughout the years of his education in the arts, Blyth has developed his skills in a variety of mediums: drawing, etching, printmaking, sculpture, laser-cutting, film and animation. Blyth’s preferred method of creation being to combine several mediums to build an installation that the audience can participate or immerse themselves in. Blyth believes these methods have proven invaluable in improving audience understand of his work and its significance regarding gender and sexuality. Having chosen to explore the contexts of his practice in an assortment of ways, Blyth feels this has enhanced his ability to aid students investigating a multiplicity of mediums and will allow his teaching to cater for a diverse range of interests and abilities, offering direction and support from a place of experience.

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