Imagination: The Superpower We Forget About As Adults
What drives creatives? When? How? Why? Who? These are all the big questions. And after all, as any academic, politician, motivational speaker will all tell you, the long-winded questions are never the tough ones, as there is so much runway for a rhetorician to persuade or dissuade. But what about What if? What about that question?
It’s a question that sits at the heart of Alex Woo of Kuku Studios' new animated film, In Your Dreams. Recently, we were lucky enough to sit down with Alex for over an hour on our podcast. As a friend and former classmate we had a lot to catch up on; but the order of business was clearly the smash hit full-length feature film that Alex is promoting, and we dive into no shortage of behind-the-scenes moments, and an exploration of some of the most memorable characters, including Baloney Tony, and Joon-Bae.
Though we would be remiss if we didn't talk about some of the finer aspects of craft. Alex walks us through key steps of his process. And one of the key takeaways? Are we TLDR already? Imagination isn’t just whimsy. Imagination is a practical skill that influences how we navigate the world.
If you're wondering how a children's movie could have the power to impact you as an adult, read on...
Why 'In Your Dreams' Arrives at the Right Time
As audiences look for stories that offer both meaning and escape, In Your Dreams arrives with a refreshing balance of emotional depth and sensory interest, including a brilliantly rendered visualscape and a beautiful soundtrack in Dolby Atmos. The movie (like 'all' good art) encourages viewers to reflect on their inner world, to ask themselves pehaps what they’ve stopped imagining and why.
The film’s juxtaposition of playfulness whilst handling trickier subjects of identity and loss makes it especially relevant at a time when many people are searching for connection.
Imagination as a Skill We Can Strengthen
One of the most practical messages from In Your Dreams is that imagination is not fixed. It can be strengthened - much like a muscle.
Daydreaming without distraction, journalling our ideas, and allowing time for introspection are a few simple ways to build imaginative capacity. These practices are rarely prioritised in daily life. It's not easy given how busy we all are. But a prod, a gentle reminder, at the hands of a skilled storyteller, might be just what we need.
Animation & Imagination
"Dreams - they present sort of a limitless creative possibilities. And animation, specifically, you can kind of do anything in that medium. If you can dream it, you can imagine it, you can do it." - Alex Woo
Animation stands out as one of the most powerful mediums for expressing imagination because it removes the limitations of the physical world. Emotions can take shape, metaphors can literally move, and entire dreamscapes can form and dissolve in ways that mirror how imagination actually works. This freedom makes animation uniquely suited to exploring the subconscious, and telling stories that challenge the boundaries of reality.
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