Director Wesley Wang’s animated short Violet and Marlowe Rob a Bank secured the Jury Award for Best Animated Short at the 2024 Tribeca Festival. The project, a collaborative music video for the band Adore, utilized Blender software to achieve a stop-motion aesthetic, marking a significant milestone for the 22-year-old filmmaker following his viral 2023 success, Nothing Except Everything.
How Violet and Marlowe Rob a Bank Won at Tribeca
The 2024 Tribeca Festival recognized Violet and Marlowe Rob a Bank for its technical precision and narrative clarity. According to the official festival winners’ announcement, the short film stood out among a competitive field of animated entries. The story follows two rabbit protagonists who execute a series of heists against a tyrannical president to reclaim hoarded carrots.
Wesley Wang developed the concept by blending the visual language of stop-motion classics like Wallace & Gromit and Fantastic Mr. Fox with modern 3D animation. The production was a lean effort, primarily involving Wang, 2D storyboard artist Alex Salsberg, and 3D animator Jacob Rivera.
Technical Production and Animation Workflow
Wang and his team bypassed artificial intelligence tools, opting for a labor-intensive manual approach to achieve the film’s distinctive look. To replicate the feel of physical stop-motion animation, the team animated in Blender at 12 frames per second.
The production timeline spanned seven months:
- Pre-production: Two months dedicated to writing and the creation of a comprehensive 2D animatic by Alex Salsberg.
- Animation: Five months of 3D work led by Jacob Rivera.
This method allowed for specific control over timing and blocking, which Wang prioritized to match the hyper-pop structure of the band Adore’s single, "Feel It All Again."
Why Wesley Wang’s Career Is Trending
The success of Violet and Marlowe Rob a Bank builds on the momentum Wang established with his 2023 live-action short, Nothing Except Everything. That project gained significant industry traction, leading to a development deal for a feature-length adaptation produced by Darren Aronofsky.
Unlike many contemporary creators who lean into automated workflows, Wang emphasizes the necessity of human-driven creativity. He has indicated that his future projects include either a feature-length expansion of the Violet and Marlowe universe or an interactive murder mystery series.
Frequently Asked Questions
What software was used to create the film?
The team used Blender to animate the characters and environments, specifically choosing a 12-fps frame rate to mimic the visual stutter of stop-motion.
Is this an official music video?
Yes, the project was created in partnership with the New York-based band Adore as a music video for their track "Feel It All Again."
What is next for director Wesley Wang?
Wang is currently developing a feature-length adaptation of Violet and Marlowe and exploring an interactive murder mystery project.
Did the team use AI in the animation process?
No, Wang confirmed that the project was produced entirely through traditional 3D animation techniques without the use of AI-generated assets.
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