Sarina Nihei: Passion & Patience
Sarina Nihei is a member of Anifilm's 2023 Jury but mainly she is a great director and artist. She specializes in hand-drawn animation and makes music videos and short films. She loves to make surreal stories and we love her sence of humor. Influence of Estonian animation is well-known in Sarina's work, but we were also curious about Japanese influences. And we asked what does came first - artwork or story?
Small People with Hats (2014)
We think that most of the people ask you about the influence of Estonian animation on your work. But we would rather first start with a question about Japanese influences. Are there any?
SN: Yes, for sure. There are many but I would say there are two Japanese directors who had a big influence on my work. One is Hayao Miyazaki. I especially love Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, which I’ve seen so many times. As a kid and as an adult. The other one is Masaaki Yuasa. I’m a big fan of his work and especially Mind Game completely blew my mind.
And now we would ask about the European ones?
SN: Priit Pärn definitely comes first as I was completely obsessed with his work, but I also love Avo Paistik, Robert Sahakyants, Jonathan Hodgson, Petra Freeman and many others.
In your films, you work a lot with absurd situations and scenes and artistic shortcuts. Is it based on your characters? Do they come first? What is the first when you work on a new project, do you build a story first, characters, backstories or start more freely with an artwork?
SN: Maybe it depends on the project, but when I made Rabbit’s Blood, I was looking at a random drawing of a rabbit on my sketchbook and there was also a girl so I started making a story about them. But sometimes I have a vague idea about the story and then start drawing characters.
Rabbit’s Blood (2017)
You prefer hand-drawn and hand-coloured animation, what attracts you to this technique?
SN: I hate drawing on computer. It doesn’t give me joy and animation takes a long time to make anyway, so I think it’s better to do what you love the most, which for me is drawing on paper.
What attracts you to making music videos? How do you perceive animation as a medium for music and rhythms in general?
SN: I love picturing movements when I’m listening to music. Music doesn’t necessarily need pictures but animation needs sounds, and when they sync together, it has like a synergistic effect, which is amazing. So I love making music videos.
As fans of Tunde Adebimpe and Mike Patton, we have to ask - how did the collaboration for the beautiful music video for Nevermen: Mr. Mistake come to be?
SN: I’m glad you mentioned that. So, Tunde first emailed me after he read an article about my film Small People with Hats on Vice. He told me he loved the film and asked me to make a music video for the song. It was so sweet of him because he sent an art book he made just after finishing the commission. I feel I’ve been just so fortunate to have an opportunity like that.
Nevermen: Mr. Mistake (2016)
What are you working on now?
SN: I’m working on my new short film, which is a story about five kids struggling in society.
Can you share some know-how with us? Clever animation tricks or useful tips? Especially for working by hand?
SN: All you need is passion for animation and patience.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
SN: For me, the story is more important than it looks, so I get inspiration from older films from the 50s to the 90s. I especially love Ingmar Bergman, Michael Haneke, David Cronenberg and the Coen brothers. I also love horror films from the 60s to the 80s. They are unintentionally so funny sometimes and also inspiring.
Is Czech animation known to you? Do you have some favorite directors / animators from our country?
SN: I got to know Jiří Trnka and Břetislav Pojar when I was at uni. But the first Czech director I got to know was Jan Švankmajer. I remember that I was blown away by Otesánek when I first watched it. Also I love his other films but I really love Eva Švankmajerová’s artwork. I think they are so amazing.
Sarina Nihei (*) is an animation director from Japan. Being obsessed with Estonian animation, she decided to pursue a career in animation. She is a graduate of London’s Royal College of Art. Her graduation film from the RCA, Small People with Hats (2014), won prizes at festivals around the world including the grand prize at Ottawa International Animation Festival in 2015.
Festival Anifilm takes place in Liberec 2.–7. May.
Sarina Nihei: Masterclass / Thursday 6. 5. 2023 / 14:30 / Varšava cinema
Programme section dedicated to Japan you can see every day until Sunday.