TARINA TYTÖSTÄ, JOKA HALUSI OLLA VALAS

The Story of the Girl Who Wanted to Be a Whale [finnish]

Background animations for a contemporary dance theatre

illustration / animation /

"The Story of the Girl Who Wanted to Be a Whale" is a contemporary dance theatre production that explores the coming-of-age journey of a young girl from a circus family who has lost her mother. The piece delves into themes of grief, identity, and the search for individuality, all viewed through the enchanting lens of the underwater world of whales. The narrative unfolds across two timelines—childhood and adulthood—often intertwining to emphasize the continuity of emotional experience across time.

For the background animations, I was provided with clear and straightforward guidelines regarding the narrative content, while being granted full creative freedom in their visual execution. Image 1 appears in the prologue, setting the tone with an atmosphere of a mysterious underwater realm. Images 2–5 accompany a scene in which the father tells his daughter the story of how she received her name.

1. THE EYE

Images 2–5 were designed to be cued in real time by the stage technician, aligning each transition with the unfolding dramatic action.

2. CALM

FATHER

When you were born, the circus had pitched its tent by the sea, on the edge of a quiet town. The tent stood at the very tip of the peninsula, where land meets water.

3. STORM

FATHER

All day, a wild storm howled. Waves rose higher than ever before, crashing over the land with unrelenting force. Rain and wind lashed against the canvas walls, and we feared the tent might be torn from the earth. Water swelled across the floor—across the entire peninsula. The performance had to be cancelled. And thank goodness it was, for that was the moment you chose to enter the world.

4. THE WHALE

FATHER

Your mother gave birth to you in our caravan. I nearly fainted from the sheer intensity of it all, but your grandmother was there—her calm hands guiding your mother as she brought you into the world. And just as your first cry pierced the storm...

5. ISLA

FATHER

...the sea fell silent, as if hushed by magic. And then, as if the earth itself had exhaled, the very tip of the peninsula broke away—drifting into the water, becoming a tiny island of its own. Your mother said it was a sign. She said your name would be Isla. It means 'island'. Isla.