Still from Make My Wish Come True by Makeya Kaiser, 2015, animation

Make My Wish Come True by Makeya Kaiser

 Makeya Kaiser's new animation is titled Make My Wish Come True, 2015. The animation is currently on view in the Creativity Explored gallery in Dance Party!, on view October 8 - November 22, 2015, in which artists explore dance as a communal experience through ephemera, popular culture, and ritual. The animation was made with technical assistance from Animation Art Instructor Veronica Graham. 

Learn what inspired the animation in the following conversation with Graham. 

What inspired the animation?

Over a year ago Makeya Kaiser asked for my assistance in making a music video. The holiday season was just around the corner and she was interested in reimagining the Mariah Carey classic  “All I Want For Christmas”. Kaiser is no stranger to the music video genre, she created “Pink Rose” in 2012 and “Diamond” in 2014, inspired by Aaliyah and Rihanna respectively. These past experiences shaped her intuitive approach to breaking down songs into sequences of exuberant pop-culture imagery. In all her films the “diva” persona is a central theme and a character she self-identifies with. That is why for “Make My Wish Come True” Kaiser developed her own unique spin on the vocal sounds and dance moves of her idol Mariah Carey.

How did Kaiser create the animation?

Early on the use of keyed green screens became an important tool for placing the “diva” character in a fantasy environment. The world was designed incrementally through the creation of props and miniature sets using cardboard, paint, and collage. She photographed her props from all angles and then we utilized Autodesk's 3D software to import these compiled images into a digital environment. Once the stage was set, Kaiser improvised with her rigged characters, playfully manipulating their bodies and sampling 2D illustrated animations to give life to her world.

For the final stage I sat with Kaiser and together we selected specific moments from the raw footage that best exemplified her own sensory impressions when listening to the original song. I'm proud of what Kaiser was able to express in this work. It's playful, heartfelt, and it captures the dreamlike feeling of being lost in a song you hold dear.

Click here to view Make My Wish Come True by Makeya Kaiser.  

Kaiser preparing 2D animation

Kaiser photographing 3D models

Kaiser filming with green screen

Still from Make My Wish Come True by Makeya Kaiser, 2015, animation

Tweet