Sunburnt Unicorn, a 3D animated film that’s capturing hearts on the global film festival circuit, is more than just a creative project — it’s a testament to the strength of community and collaboration among Alberta University of Arts (AUArts) alumni.
While Nick Johnson wrote, directed and produced the film, the filmmaker recruited the talented teams at Squid Brain Studios and New Machine Studios to build its whimsical 3D landscape. The Alberta-based development and pre-production team featured a talented group of AUArts alumni, including Isabelle Ackroyd (storyboards), Natasha Jensen (production advisor) and Sho Uehara (storyboards and character design).
Premiering at the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, Sunburnt Unicorn tells the story of an injured youth who adopts the identity of a mythical unicorn to navigate surreal encounters as he treks through an endless desert to rescue his father from the Cactus King.
Nick Johnson (Assistant Professor, Visual Communications in Illustration and BDes ’13, Illustration) was the driving force behind Sunburnt Unicorn, serving as its writer, director and producer.
What has your experience been like creating this film in Alberta? Is it a different environment than other bigger centres of animation and film industry?
Johnson: Alberta has no shortage of talented, hardworking artists and animators, but unfortunately, we don’t have enough studios and production houses to provide stable employment. Despite this, there is a passionate and thriving community of independent animation, with organizations like AUArts and Quickdraw Animation at the centre of the excitement, training a whole new generation.
Alberta’s limited resources mean that everyone on the team must wear many hats and perform a variety of duties on every production. The exciting part is that we never stop learning!
Isabelle Ackroyd (BDes ’20, Illustration) described her experience working on Sunburnt Unicorn as incredibly supportive and growth-oriented.
Ackroyd: Being in more of a tight-knit community was a really awesome experience. Alberta artists are so fantastic at supporting and lifting each other up ... and the work environment is so rewarding.
Can you reflect on what it was like to work on this project with a team of fellow AUArts alumni?
Johnson: AUArts alumni tend to be solid communicators, thriving in a studio environment due to their design knowledge, collaborative skills and strong work ethic. They are both extremely creative and goal-oriented, making it possible to create unique characters and stories while nailing tight deadlines.
As an overworked director tasked with running three projects at different stages of the production, it was a great relief to have a story team I trusted. Their work inspired me to do better when it was my turn to get into the artist’s chair.
Natasha Jensen (BFA ’13, Drawing) brought a unique perspective to the Sunburnt Unicorn team, combining her background in arts creation with project management experience.
Jensen: As a student, I learned how to grow as an individual artist while collaborating and supporting my classmates. I learned how to be curious by being a critical thinker, conduct research and translate those skills into a visual practice. I also learned how to plan events, communicate and delegate tasks as a group.
If you throw yourself into the art school experience, you will come away with a strong work ethic and the ability to collaborate with others and communicate your visual ideas.
Sho Uehara (BDes ’10, Illustration) reflected on the collaborative spirit of the Sunburnt Unicorn team, particularly during the character design phase. Ideas were shared and developed collectively, resulting in a final product that felt like a true team effort.
Uehara: It’s a dream come true. It felt like working with your best friends, and there was a deep respect for each other’s skills and input. We came together with one goal: to make the best film we can and do this story justice.
What is something special, funny or interesting that you want people to know about the process of making Sunburnt Unicorn or about the finished film?
For Johnson, one of the most exciting aspects of creating Sunburnt Unicorn was the freedom to take creative risks. Without the constraints of a large studio or commercial pressures, the team was able to craft a story that pays homage to 1980s family adventure films, resulting in a unique and memorable cinematic experience.
Ackroyd: My favourite scenes to board were the kit fox pup scenes. When I showed off my first boards to Nick with these cute little guys, he said something like: “We have to make sure you’re doing the other kit fox scenes.” That made my year!
Uehara: Bringing to life the characters through collaborative design was a unique experience for me. Creating and sharing character sketches back and forth in person, seeing each other’s reactions in real time and feeding off that. The characters really took on a life of their own, and it no longer felt like mine or Nick’s designs alone but a true merging of ideas and problem-solving styles that wanted to become their own thing.
Can you share a story about your time as a student at AUArts, an anecdote about something you learned that stuck with you, or your favourite aspect of your undergrad experience?
Johnson: There are few times and places in your life where you are encouraged to get lost in your own daydreams, but AUArts provided me that time to explore my own characters and stories, hone my skills and allow me to make work that resonates with people. I had the time to research art history and philosophical ideas, all of which influenced my work to this day and instilled in me the importance of creating work that reflects and critiques the world in which we live.
Since graduating, I’ve worked alongside some of my fellow grads on professional projects; sometimes, they’ve worked for me, and I’ve worked for them. The classroom was where we first developed our personal networks and created connections that we carried with us long into our professional careers.
Ackroyd: The best thing I learned at AUArts was that our connections are incredibly valuable. Unfortunately, I never got a class with Nick at the school, but my great friend Shannon Reeves recommended me for the job, and I’ve made many more AUArts connections since!
Jensen: I am so thankful for the passionate teachers still at AUArts, like Richard Brown, Sondra Meszaros and Alex Link. They were role models for me as a student, teaching me to be curious about the small things, playful in my work and generous with my colleagues. Take your work seriously, but not yourself seriously.
Uehara: My favourite aspect of the undergrad experience was meeting and getting to know and learn from amazing instructors and classmates. I had the privilege of getting to know super-talented people. Talented classmates like Laura Perez and Tom Rhodes (brother of Matt Rhodes), as well as wonderful instructors like Allison Miyauchi, Karl Geist, Mike Kerr and Riley Rossmo, to name a few. It was a tough but rewarding program that gave me the tools and confidence to keep going well after graduation.
For more about Sunburnt Unicorn and the team behind it, visit their official website or follow them on Instagram:
Nick Johnson: @illustratednick
Isabelle Ackroyd: @izzybdoodles
Natasha Jensen: @natashafayejensen
Sho Uehara: @shouehara
