“I see what you think: the world of Worried World.”

The protagonist of Worried World finds himself in a world where every thought is visible to everyone at all times. This is the reality for the young factory worker who desperately tries to escape the constant exposure of her inner world. The film, winner of the James Horgan Award for Best Animation at the 2023 Galway Film Fleadh and the Audience Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival, was directed by Irish animator Jess Patterson. A member of Dublin-based studio JAM Media, Patterson has previously directed the award-winning animated short The Journey. His recent work includes Mistletoe and Stubbs for RTÉ and 2018's The Wiremen, which also won the James Horgan and other awards. Patterson offers some thoughts and anecdotes on the creation of his latest blockbuster.

How did you get involved in this short film?
I met our writer Hugh O'Conor at the Galway Film Festival in 2018, and he told me about a new script that he thought would be perfect to become an animated short. We developed the idea over the next two years and secured funding from Screen Ireland to produce the short film with JAM Media in 2021.

What was the initial idea behind the short film and how did you decide on the animation style and specific imagery?
We began by exploring the question, “What if everyone could see your thoughts?” After living through the almost dystopian experience of Lockdown, we decided to build a story about the search for connection in a disconnected world. Hugh once described the short film as “an introvert's worst nightmare”, and this guided us throughout the production. We chose a minimal design to favor hand-drawn line art, and limited dialogue to reflect the lack of verbal communication in a world where thoughts are exposed.

When did you start working on the short film and how long did it take you to make it?
Hugh and I began developing the short film in 2019 before securing funding and starting production in 2021. The short film premiered at the Galway Film Festival in July 2023.

What animation tools were used and how many people worked on them?
We used Adobe Photoshop for design and animation, and involved more than 25 people on multiple occasions across all departments.

Had you worked with Hugh O'Conor before?
I hadn't had the chance to work with Hugh before this production, but I learned a lot from the experience of working with him on the short film.

What did you like about this experience?
I really enjoyed the development process, character and concept design. It thrills me to see how the animators translate the action and performance into a fully realized scene.

Do you find the experience of making a short film more liberating than working on children's animated television projects?
Yes and no, both have their moments of liberation. In short films there is more creative freedom, whereas in TV production I focus on what I do best, which is liberating.

Who are your animation heroes?
I'm a lover of Irish animators like Eamonn Oneill, Louise Bagnall and Eoin Duffy, who create world-class work.

What was the biggest lesson you learned from this experience?
The importance of being well set up in the subdivision of the script before starting production.

What are you working on next?
I'm the episodic director of an upcoming preschool series in collaboration with JAM Media.

What's the best advice you can give to people who want to make their own animated shorts?
Sometimes the simplest idea is the best one.



Source: https://www.animationmagazine.net