Conor MacFinn on Bringing Ariel to Life

Conor MacFinn, the filmmaker behind the award-winning animated short Ariel, has a career as diverse as the multinational team that brought his latest project to life. From his Canadian-American roots to his exploration of Sephardi and Mizrachi cultures, MacFinn’s dedication to cultural authenticity and imaginative storytelling shines in this ambitious project set in the 19th-century Ottoman Empire.

“I’m Sephardi, and my mom used to read me this story as a child,” MacFinn shared, reflecting on his inspiration for Ariel. “Several of my previous films were inspired by my Indigenous heritage, which is also underrepresented in American media. I wanted to do something similar by exploring a different aspect of my inheritance.”

The film follows the journey of a young Jewish boy from Jerusalem who embarks on a perilous desert trek to save his family. To make the folktale resonate with contemporary audiences, MacFinn turned to animation, a medium that allowed him to balance historical realism with the magical elements of the story. “If this had been a live-action movie, it might be quite jarring to have a CG lion appear out of nowhere. Animation keeps it all in the realm of fantasy,” he explained.

MacFinn’s commitment to cultural authenticity is evident in every frame of Ariel. “We looked at all kinds of artifacts and visual representations—museum exhibits, old photographs, and artists’ representations—to see what kind of clothes these people would be wearing and what their houses might look like,” he said. While the team prioritized historical accuracy, they made selective adjustments, such as depicting the Dome of the Rock gilded as it appears today. “It’s so iconic, and that’s how most of our audience would recognize it.”

The film also highlights the often-overlooked role of women in the Sephardi Jewish community. “Yasmina, Ari’s mom, would have been literate and could have owned property. She would have had a voice in the education of her children and household finances,” MacFinn noted, adding that these elements were woven into the narrative to challenge perceptions of a patriarchal society.

The pandemic posed unique challenges for the production team, which operated remotely across continents and time zones. “We used Discord, SyncSketch, and Dropbox to communicate, share files, and do critiques,” MacFinn said. “The daily meetings weren’t just about work; they were also about team building. The interchange of ideas among people from such varied backgrounds contributed tremendously to the look of the film.”

Modern technology enabled MacFinn to assemble a global team of artists. “I look for people who have interests outside of animation, people who think outside the box,” he explained. “I tend to think of my animation as a moving illustration.”

The film’s music and sound design were critical in bringing Ariel to life. MacFinn praised composer Josh Kaye and the team at Pomann Sound for their contributions. “One minor miracle was the timing of the music to the lion scene in the desert. When we threw it into the edit, it perfectly reflected the action—it was bashert!” he exclaimed, using the Yiddish term for “meant to be.”

Audience reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with accolades pouring in from festivals worldwide. “One of the most meaningful honors was when Ariel made Semi-Finalist at the Dubai Independent Film Festival,” MacFinn said. “It was a real honor that people from the Arabic world viewed our film as culturally authentic.”

As Ariel continues to garner awards and inspire audiences, MacFinn hopes its core message resonates universally. “A longtime student of mine said, ‘It’s about never losing hope,’” he shared. “I think that’s something we all really need to think about.”

With its lush animation, cultural depth, and heartfelt storytelling, Ariel utilizes the power of animation to bridge historical authenticity and creative magic. MacFinn’s meticulous research, passion for cultural representation, and ability to lead a global team under challenging circumstances have created a film that is as rich in meaning as it is visually stunning.

As MacFinn reflects on the journey of bringing Ariel to life, his gratitude for his team and the story’s enduring relevance shines through. “Together, we breathed life into this ancient tale of a Middle Eastern Jewish boy’s quest to save his family and preserve their inheritance,” he said. And in doing so, they’ve left a lasting mark on the world of animation.

Tickets to see Ariel during the film festival are available HERE