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VeenPool was approached by multiple Sikh Charities to produce an animated narrative series commemorating the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur, the 9th Sikh Guru. The series was intended to be presented as part of a live musical event with malleability for online distribution.
The story of Teg Bahadur holds significant cultural and spiritual importance and requires sensitive and emotionally engaging storytelling. We approached the project with great care, aiming to break new barriers in the retelling of Sikh history through an animation format. With great attention to creative storytelling, and stunning visuals, the animation series aimed to captivate audiences of all ages and backgrounds, while also honouring the rich history and traditions of the Sikh faith.
Produce multi-platform content that caters to the requirements of live event production as well as being suitable for online distribution. Create a culturally sensitive series that caters to a young audience while maintaining the potential to captivate a wider demographic.
The event, hosted at Walsall Football Club, received widespread praise and acclaim. The engaging atmosphere greatly enhanced the live storytelling and musical elements, contributing to the overall success of the occasion. Moreover, the event showcased the elevated levels of animation, which not only captivated the audience but also demonstrated the potential for innovation and growth of Sikh storytelling.
The project involved research, strategy, script consultation, film production, sound design, music production, voice-recording, illustration, animation, and marketing and promotional materials.
MAIN CAST
THE SIKH GURUS
THE PANDITS OF KASHMIR
CROWDS (1 OF 3)
CROWDS (2 OF 3)
The diverse characters featured in the series serve to authentically capture the cultural richness and diversity of 17th century Punjab…
The Village of Bakala – Day Time
[Part 2, Scene 1, Shot 1]
Kartarpur
[Part 3, Scene 1, Shot 1]
The Bazars of Persia
[Part 1, Scene 2, Shot 3.1]
Red Fort, Delhi
[Part 4, Scene 2, Shot 2]
Court of Guru Teg Bahadur, Anandpur
[Moodboard: Part 4, Scene 2, Shot 2]
Creating an authentic representation of 17th-century Punjab was quite challenging, given the limited contemporary references. To overcome this, we had to understand the unique blend of architectural influences prevalent at the time. This involved incorporating Rajput features such as intricate carvings and frescoes, and Islamic geometric patterns that were popularized by the Mughal and Afghan influences in the region.
Due to the scarcity of hand-drawn animations featuring period South Asian settings, it was tempting to rely on loosely related source material, such as portrayals of the Middle East (Aladdin, 1992) or Afghanistan (The Breadwinner, 2017). Instead, we focused on crafting a distinct visual style that genuinely depicted this era in Punjab and Delhi. We made a conscious effort to avoid clichés, like sandy landscapes, and concentrated on creating a captivating and unique environment style that accurately reflected the climate, available materials, and architectural and cultural influences.
[Various]
Ship on Stormy Sea
[Part 1, Scene 3]
Props played a critical role in establishing the intent of characters and differentiating between true nobility and deceitful ostentation. We carefully selected each prop to reflect the personality and motivations of each character,
Having witnessed Jaskaran’s ability to effectively manage a diverse team of creative professionals first-hand, I was genuinely impressed by his communication skills and leadership ability. He established a collaborative, trusting, and respectful atmosphere among his team and with external stakeholders through excellent forward planning and consistent support.
Jaskaran demonstrated a unique talent for addressing the concerns of various stakeholders, such as executive producers and investors. He skilfully balanced their needs while remaining true to the artistic vision, earning the admiration and respect of all those involved in the project. Jaskaran’s unwavering commitment to the series led to a final product that exceeded our most ambitious expectations!
