This is my work for my animation project in which I animated scenes from the book "The war that saved my life" written by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (a 2015 children’s middle grade historical book). The scenes evoke the external conflict that took place in England during World War II which interferes with both the conflict between Ada and her mother and Ada's inner struggle.
"Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she sneaks out to join him. She takes her mother's shoes and hardly learns how to walk.
So begins a new adventure for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?"
So begins a new adventure for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan—and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?"
Here is my character design for Ada and her natural mother:
(for Ada, there are 2 versions, the first Ada, with her twisted foot and dressed in her poor clothes, and the second Ada, the one with new dress and shoes, raised by Susan)
The objects are inspired by the ones who were produced in England during the 20th century or even earlier .Since they lived in a poor house, they wouldn't have the possibility to buy modern furniture and objects of that time.
I also made a tunnel inspired by the ones during WW2 in England where people used to hide away from the bombs.
Here are some renders with Ada in her room and also with Ada locked inside the kitchen cabinet.
Here is the short trailer that contains the animation and also some videos with what really happened during WW2 as described in the book.
Thank you!
