By Dr. Millicent Young

On Thursday, September 28^th, at House Samyan, the French Embassy hosted the opening event for the Beyond Animation Festival 2023. The event involved a screening of the animation feature film Le Petit Nicolas and then hosted workshops and animation experiences supported by the embassy.  In the presence of the newly appointed French Ambassador, M. Jean-Claude Poimbœuf, Cultural Attache Thierry Bayle and Audio Visual Officer Julien Lacorne, Thai Animation and Computer Graphic Association (TACGA), the Japanese Foundation Bangkok and other cultural and media partners, the Biophilia 360° Virtual Reality (VR) animation project created by Dr. Millicent Young in collaboration with students was premiered.

The Beyond Animation Festival 2023 which was held until October 14 in three cities—Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phayao, with 12 feature films and 30 short films and workshops and events taking place at Alliance Française, SF Cinema MBK Center and Doc Club & Pub in Bangkok. 

Working closely with Julien Lacome and Daren Robbins of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, the French Embassy had offered to host our work at the event, if we collaborated on a special edit to a French composer’s work. The summer of 2023 was spent developing the artwork and selecting the music which was Jacques Ibert’s Concerto for Flute I  with solo flute by Yu-Jin Jung, and Olivier Ochanine as conductor and performed by the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra.

The artwork for the 5-minute animation was made based on field trips to Sireeruckchahati Nature Park in Mahidol University and Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand. The animation and backgrounds were inspired by the natural flora and fauna that the participants encountered in the parks where they collected data through drawing, photographing and recording sounds in the environment. Their animation and background designs were then edited by Dr. Young into the VR animation and set to the music. This mini-project was then given the opportunity to be premiered at this event before the animation industry and experts. 

The project is part of the Biophilia SEED Grant supported by Mahidol University International College (MUIC) where Dr. Young  is developing Biophilia-inspired events to spark curiosity and observation in nature through immersive experiences by, with and for the community.

Ajarn Laird Allan, research cluster manager and faculty member of MUIC’S Science Division, came along to experience the premiere. There are plans to incorporate the VR into the learning experience he is developing for Thai high school students to engage with garden-based learning.

MUIC students helped the audience to view the Biophilia 360° in a fully immersive VR experience in three Metaquest goggles provided by the French Embassy. Attending the event were Ajarn Joot (Supawan Supaneedis), a part-time lecturer and alumna of MUIC’s Communication Design Program; and students Munazza “Bunny” Munabir; Narongrit “Day” Phuwaset; Supawat “Bajang” Promjart; Sarisa “Kim” Soonfueng; Waristha “Vee” Srisiriwongchai; Prassara “Kaopoon” Mingphruedhi; Pakjira “Yuqing” Jia; Nutsupat “Benz” Lertchanvit; Nanarin “Rin” Meesuwan; Cecilia “Xingyu” Liangfang; Nootpravee “Mew” Khongrod; Nattaparee “Namtarn” Whan-Ying; and Worawit “Ohmmy” Chanburom. 

You may watch the Biophilia 360° animation by scanning the QR code.

It will be available until October 28, 2023 (International Animation Day).