Kickstart This: Neil Gaiman's 'The Grave of Saint Oran'

Thanks to his work both in comics and fiction, British author Neil Gaiman is something of a God in geek circles. He's also been associated with animation a number of times- being the original author of Laika's first film Coraline, and even writing the English adaptation of Princess Mononoke. Now, a new Kickstarter seeks to adapt one of his works into a beautiful animated film.

Gaiman was so impressed by the work of Australian, New York-based animator Jim Batt (which included a music video for his wife, singer Amanda Palmer) that he gave him the rights to produce a short based on one of his poems In Relig Odhrain.







The story is, according to its makers "a twisted philosophical tale of two saints, a murder, and the dark history behind the chapel on the island of Iona". Batt will be working in the medium of stop-motion with paper cut-outs, to be shot "in camera with minimal digital interference".

Batt will be working with talented artist Ellen Barkin Söderholm, who hails from Sweden, to give the film its visual style. And based on the work shown so far, it looks like it's going to be absolutely beautiful. Also on the project is composer Jherek Bischoff, and Gaiman himself will be acting as narrator.

A $5 pledge will get you online access to the finished film, while $10 will get you a downloadable version. Other rewards include DVDs, art cards, an artbook and a chance to visit the studio in NYC. The project seeks $45,000 by May 5th- and is already a good part of the way there only a few days into the project. Having a legendary author attached to your project probably doesn't hurt. The project is estimated to be completed by June 2017.

You can check out some of Batt's previous work over on his website -including his previous successful Kickstarter project, I have your Heart.

If you want to help make this a reality, head over to the project page today for more information and to pledge your support.