Animated Short 'Above' Brings Sun and Rain’s Epic Battle to Life

‘Above’, a whimsical and imaginative animated short, is launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund its production. The film tells the story of a hidden world above the clouds, where Sun and Rain go head-to-head to determine who will become the forecast of the day. With its unique premise, the project aims to bring a fresh, entertaining take on the natural forces that affect us every day. 

Co-written by John Larigakis and Pierre Chan—two seasoned advertising creatives—the story blends the fast-paced rivalry of Wile E Coyote & Road Runner with the unexpected battles of Spy vs. Spy. It's an imaginative world, where the weather itself is alive and constantly feuding.

“We’ve always been fans of world-building in classic Disney and Pixar films, like the secret life of toys, and where monsters in closets come from, so, we set out to create a fresh new setting of our own that we haven’t seen yet,” said John Larigakis, co-writer and director of the short. 

The film will use 2D animation, with the help of Chan Tong and Will Panassi, who’ve worked on acclaimed projects such as Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, television series Oswaldo on Cartoon Network, and the Netflix original animated motion picture America, featuring the voices of Channing Tatum, Andy Samberg, Simon Pegg, Oliva Munn and Will Forte.

‘Above’ is currently in the early stages of production and is being funded entirely through the Kickstarter campaign, which launched on February 18th. The creators are seeking support from animation fans, film buffs, and those interested in seeing this project come to fruition. 

“Just like some of our favourite Pixar shorts, we’ve made 'Above' to entertain all ages and demographics,” said Pierre Chan, co-writer and director. “Whether you’re a child, parent, teen, teacher, rock climber, aromatherapist, bee keeper, dog food taster, elevator mechanic, advertising jingle writer, fountain pen collector, Jay Baruchel, or a human scarecrow, you’ll enjoy this film.”

The Kickstarter campaign features several exciting rewards for backers, including fun socks, tote bags, and enamel pins of the characters, Sun and Rain. Plus there’s even an opportunity for a brand sponsorship as a reward as listed on the Kickstarter page: “Are you an outdoor apparel brand like North Face, MEC, Arc'teryx, MADE Outdoor, lululemon or Vessi? Maybe you're a weather app, or sunglasses brand? If your company has anything to do with the weather, this is perfect for you. Get a special ‘Sponsored By’ callout at the start of our closing credits featuring your logo prominently. Plus you get all the rewards.” 

The team has a listed goal of $25,000 on Kickstarter, but hopes to raise upwards of $40,000 by March 20th. You can learn more about 'Above' and help fund the animated short on their Kickstarter page.