Armenia, a country with a long-standing history and tradition of music, traces its musical roots back to the Armenian Highlands as far as the third millennium BCE. The profound love Armenians have for music naturally led them to blend it into various art forms, and animation is no exception. Since the release of Armenia’s first animated film in 1937, Armenian animators have excelled at integrating music into animation narratives. Today, they have taken the fusion of music and storytelling to new heights, and one of the most representative works of this new generation is the *Music Collection*, a series of animated short films created by the Armenian studio ARTSTEP-STUDIO.
The birth of the *Music Collection* project can be traced back to jazz, the most beloved and widespread genre of music in Armenia. Jazz is more then just music-it’s a lifestyle based on complete improvisation. The idea of reflecting the atmosphere of a vibrant city through music and making a small plot from it is both simple and clear. After the success of the first film with audiences and at festivals, animators and musicians were inspired to create an entire series of light, colorful films to illustrate sound, with a visual style that aligns perfectly with the music, blending seamlessly into it, which is not only something to be heard but also something to be seen.
The attempt to visualize music is not uncommon in the world of art. Many artists have sought to depict sound, for example, Max Klinger in his engraving Evocation (from the series Brahms Fantasies) and the sculpture Monument to Beethoven experimented with the concepts of sound and style. Henri Matisse’s paintings Music (1910,1939) and Dance reflect the vibrant joy of music and life, while Salvador Dalí’s The Red Orchestra reflects a colorful and exuberant musical experience. Caravaggio, in his The Lute Player from the 16th century, captures the intimate tenderness of a singer. Remarkably, many of these artists painted in such a way that you could almost hear the music through their work which is the most interesting and remarkable thing. Naturally, all this inspires and stimulates the creation of a digital image of musical sound.
However, creating animated films is a time-consuming and challenging process. The creation of each film typically takes 8 to 9 months from the first day of production. Furthermore, each project is approved and financed separately, often at different times and even across different years, making it impossible to carry out simultaneous production. Another challenge in Armenia is that there is only one fund available for financing: the Cinema Foundation of Armenia. The amount of 32,000 euros allocated for the production of a short film is insufficient for high-quality animation and music composition. Co-producing with international partners can also lead to unwanted copyright issues. As a result, you have to do advertising, write scripts and prepare projects for other companies in order to have a source of additional financing for the music collection. This takes a lot of time and effort.
Despite these challenges, the reviews are very positive and inspiring. Notably, the films are appreciated more by ordinary viewers than by festival juries. Audiences have liked the simple plot, bright colorful pictures, and good music that fits the visual story. Many festivals showcased these films outdoors to large crowds, and it was nice to see the audience's reactions—whether they were rejoicing, feeling sad, or clapping in appreciation. The audience’s success is highlighted by the fact that, for example, Jazz Fool Around secured second place in the audience’s choice at the Short of the Year festival’s online voting, out of dozens of films. This recognition is valuable for the creators of the film, as this collection was designed for the average person seeking enjoyment or emotional resonance, rather than delving into complex psychological issues or multi-layered philosophical themes often found in festival animation.
Currently, three short films in the *Music Collection* series have been completed, each representing a different musical genre: jazz, blues, and rock. Looking ahead, ARTSTEP-STUDIO plans to create more short films in the following musical genres: Classical music, Electronic, Heavy metal, French chanson, Soul, Rock and roll, Military march, and Lullaby. The cycle of musical films can be quite long, as can the list of musical genres. The main thing is is that both the plot and the music should speak for themselves, without the need for unnecessary words and dialogues much like paintings by the greatest artists throughout history.
In the following articles, we will take a closer look at the three completed short films in the *Music Collection* series, continuing our exploration of the unique style of Armenian animation.
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