I was honoured to be asked by Eye Candy Animation to work with The Department of Veteran Affair’s Sir John Monash Centre and write a series of historic animations about the brave battles fought by our Anzacs. It’s a state-of-the-art museum and interpretive centre in France that commemorates Australian servicemen and women who served on the Western Front during the First World War.
‘Actions and Tactics Experience’ is a ten-minute CGI ‘bullet time’ film which tells the story of four tactically significant battles that Australians were involved in on the Western Front in France and Belgium.
The battles depicted are Fromelles, Broodseinde, Amiens and Mont St Quentin. Each story shows the great courage of Australian troops against horrific odds and the tactical genius of their General John Monash who – unlike his British peers at the time – had the novel idea of protecting men with machinery and continued to innovate the way the war was fought and won.
The experience is presented across a huge Cinematic Wall Screen and a matching Floor Screen Array. The Wall depicts the battles through the dramatised lens of the troops on the ground while the floor array simultaneously presents animated tactical maps depicting the high-level story of troop movements, objectives and tactical outcomes.
Unfortunately, the narration for these battle animations can’t be shared here due to copyright restrictions, but the imagery can – enjoy.
SJMC – Action & Tactics Reel from Ken Buchan on Vimeo.
If you ever get the chance, make a trip to visit The Sir John Monash Centre, it’s located approximately 150 km north of Paris and 20 km east of Amiens. Which is roughly half-way between the town of Villers-Bretonneux and the towns of Corbie and Fouilloy.
Discover just how much our valiant Anzac troops sacrificed and the adversity they overcame to secure the freedoms we enjoy today.
Press the ‘Home’ link below to visit The Sir John Monash Museum site.
