Songbird: A virtual moment of extinction

Role: Producer

Songbird is an animated interactive virtual reality experience I produced at The Guardian’s VR studio. It is a nonfiction fairytale with a dark heart exploring climate change’s effect on wildlife ecosystems.

Upon entering the headset you will be transported to the island of Kauai, Hawaii, in 1984 and into a painted replica of a lush cloud forest filled with colourful birds. Here, you are invited to search for the last known ʻōʻō, an iconic black bird with yellow leg feathers and a beautiful song, a bird whose existence has been threatened to the point of extinction.

Songbird was directed by Lucy Greenwell. The hand-painted artwork and animation was created by Uri and Michelle Kranot of the production studio TinDrum.

Songbird is available on HTC Vive and The Guardian’s VR app for Google Daydream and Cardboard.

Exhibited: CPH:Dox, Anifest Zagreb, Bergen International Film Festival, ONA 18, Festival du nouveau Cinema Montreal, Adelaide Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival, Geneva International Film Festival, Thessaloniki Film Festival.

Winner: Best VR at the Anima Brussels Animation Festival.