WATCH: The Itchyworms’ stop-motion animation film ‘The Life I Know’
Filipino pop-rock band The Itchyworms have released a new stop-motion short film named after their song, The Life I Know, in celebration of their 25th anniversary.
The short film soundtracked to the band’s song of the same name from their fifth studio album, Waiting For The End To Start, was released on YouTube Wednesday (July 7) evening via Sony Music Philippines.
The film tells the story of Awit, shown from her birth and growth as a little girl, who journeys into a womblike alternate world as she rediscovers her connection with her mother and new sibling.
The inspiring short film, which was directed by the band’s former manager, Marie Jamora, and Jason McLagan, features indigenous handwoven Philippine textiles, in a style said to be the first of its kind to be shown in a stop-motion animation film.
“Being a new mother myself and remembering the experience of having a baby in my own womb, I always wondered what was going on inside, whether there was a different universe that my baby lived in,” said Jamora in a press release. “This all inspired and informed me for our video. I don’t think I would have ever thought of this concept if I didn’t go through this experience.”
The Life I Know showcases the traditional Filipino art of weaving. The Dream World depicted in the short film is made entirely of traditional woven textiles in the style of T’Boli Dream Weavers. The main characters, including Awit, the mother and the sibling, are all made out of wool and other weaving materials.
“This fundamentally links the characters to the Dream World, which we also designed to evoke the feeling and patterns of a womb,” said animator Cami Kwan.
This short film kicks off The Itchyworms’ celebration plans for their 25th anniversary. Other planned releases include a new single, Eto Na, a music video for Waiting For The End To Start, a mockumentary, and a podcast series.
Watch the music video posted on the band's official YouTube channel and WeTV:
(Images via The Itchyworms)