Statement from the Artist

Last spring, Chris asked me if I would create the OIAF poster and signal film for 2025. I thought, “Sure, that’s ages from now and will involve drawing at least one owl—and I love owls!”  I happily accepted the job and mentally filed it under “later.”

Only a few months later, Chris messaged me to ask if I had made any progress on the poster and if I had anything to show. I didn’t, but I felt I should present something. So, I sketched a grumpy owl sitting in a tree. Why grumpy? I’m not sure—it’s a common expression for owls, though I understand it doesn’t necessarily reflect their actual mood.

When I began working on the poster for real, I had grown fond of the grumpy owl. Since he looked a little lonely, I added some small stick figure owls that appear to be flying off the phenakistoscope. One of the stick figure owls is wearing a hat like the Animation Pimp, but I wouldn’t read too much into that.

And orange is my favourite colour.

– Torill Kove