Animation

The Shoemaker

Ruth Browne Murray

Duration: 3:44min

Medium: Stop-Motion Puppet Animation & 2D Experimental (Watercolour & Oil Pastel) Animation

Roles: Writer, Director, Puppet Maker, Animator, Sound Designer

Trailer

Logline

An elderly cobbler lives a lonely life following the loss of his wife and child until one day a young girl arrives at his workshop with her mother hoping to buy custom shoes that accommodate her disability. The bond they form renews the shoemaker’s sense of purpose and he slowly begins to learn to enjoy life again.

Artist Statement

My goal when making animations is to highlight the beauty in the ordinary, to tell relatable stories which celebrate people’s everyday lives. For ‘The Shoemaker’ I was inspired by the life of my Great-Uncle Malachy, who worked as a cobbler his entire life. Stop-motion felt like the perfect, tactile medium to tell this story as the effort which goes into creating the many detailed material components is an acknowledgment to the care and attention Uncle Malachy put into his own work. Through this film I hope to convey the humility, kindness and quiet strength with which he led his life.