Andrej is an animated short film created by Dutch animator and filmmaker Julia Veldman using just pitch black ink and paper. The short film is based on the literature of Daniil Kharms, a Russian absurdist who was living and writing about madness, fears and humour in the early 20th century.
The idea of madness comes through clearly in the film. When the main character, Andrej, spits into a cup, he suddenly turns the water black and his world goes topsy-turvy. His dog can fly, he feels like a dog and his neighbour appears from and disappears into thin air. The story gets even stranger when, in a shocking move, Andrej drinks the pitch black water.
Originally trained as a designer at Design Academy Eindhoven, Veldman taught herself the filmmaking techniques that have made Andrej come to life. Veldman is able to transform the simple equipment of flat sheets of paper and black ink to become spacious and dynamic in her animation.
