This isn’t just a sweet story about a bunch of animals passing a red sketchbook between them. Behind this beautiful animation by the talented Dice Tsutsumi, is a gem of an idea. Sketchtravel, one of the most original and charming initiatives to raise money for charity was conjured up between Dice and the French illustrator, Gerald Guerlais. The little red sketchbook travelled around the world, visiting 71 different illustrators, each of them having a page to draw on, before they handing it over in person to the next illustrator. This project took 4 and a half years to complete but raised an incredible €70,000 at auction in Brussels for non-profit international literacy charity, Room to Read which is helping to educate poor children around the world. Featuring: Bill Plympton, James Jean, Rebecca Dautremer, Glen Keane, Frederick Back, and Hayao Miyazak amongst others. The animated video tells the story of the initiative using different animals travelling through desert and thick forest, across seas and skies to deliver the sketchbook to safety. Forming alliances with creatures big and small and forging new bonds with great foes of past. There’s something of the biblical in both the storytelling and the style of animation, but do not let that put you off. A simple tale, told in heart-warming and charming manner, accompanied with a splendid soundtrack. Sit back and enjoy.

For more info, please go to Sketchtravel
Directed/Animated by Dice Tsutsumi
Original Score – Zach Johnston | Dan Govier
Original Story – Dice Tsutsumi | Zach Johnston
Additional Animation – Jeremy McCracken | Ed Robbins
Additional Art – Robert Kondo | Jennifer Chang | Shelly Wan