The National Film School of Denmark Animation Graduates: David G. Raaberg Wedel and The Sound of Letting Go

An animated musical about breaking up a failed love affair and moving on in a new one. A mix of animatic and drawn animation that gives a clear picture of what awaits us with the finished movie.

- Gunnar Wille

David Wedel's "The Sound of Letting Go" was inspired by his love of animated musicals, and a desire to use that medium to tell a more sophisticated, adult story. Wedel says that this film is about love lost, and a story about being insecure when faced with one's past, being lost in nostalgia, and saying goodbye to a side of yourself you can not return to. The hand drawn animation style is suitably emotional and nostalgic, with some really lovely transitions and camera moves that contribute to the slightly fantastic feel of a musical.

Talking further about the film, Wedel says:

Why must animated musicals always be aimed at either children, or filled with R-rated content? Animation has a long and storied tradition with musicals, and even though "The Lion King" and "South Park: The Movie" are phenomenal films, there seems to be space available to challenge the genre. When I started working on the film, I was spending a lot of time between Copenhagen and my maternal home of Jutland. That clash of past and future created a perfect situation for strong emotions of nostalgia, which I knew then and there, should be the basis for my graduation project. The hope is that, in the end, it turned into a relatable film for anyone who has ever been in a relationship where they lost a part of themselves; and the bittersweet, melancholic feeling of saying goodbye to it. The next project I dream of directing, is a feature film aimed at kids, that delves into the difficult subject of losing a friend. It's a very personal story that I hope can be a conversational starter for families experiencing the loss of a child in their community.

Since the film features them so prominently, it's worth mentioning Sanne Raabjerg Wedel, Marco Twellmann, and Casper Belmaati, who were responsible for writing and composing the songs. The songs struck the right nostalgic tone without becoming sappy, and were well-matched with the visuals and story pacing.

We look forward to seeing more from the talented team behind "The Sound of Letting Go."

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