“Na slavkovských lókách” (On the Meadows of Slavkov) is an original audiovisual project that uses digital animation and stylized illustration to explore the folklore of my home – Slavkov region. Through the combination of movement, image, and sound, I bring fragments of local traditions to life and reinterpret them in a contemporary visual language. I drew inspiration from historical sources, embroidery patterns, traditional costume details, and the local landscape. The narrative is based on a Moravian folk song, from which the project also takes its name. I created a new musical arrangement myself and structured the entire visual storytelling around its rhythm.
This short visual story follows a girl and a young man in the summer countryside – their brief encounter, silent dialogue, and quiet parting. The motif of the red poppy becomes a metaphor for transience, tenderness, and inner transformation. The project aims to show that folklore can be treated with both sensitivity and relevance – without losing its authenticity. It is not a definitive interpretation of tradition, but rather a personal experiment in how to translate it into the language of today’s digital media and pass it on more effectively.
The project is realized as a hand-stylized 2D animation, built upon layered vector illustration. In animating each scene, I used subtle organic deformations, blur, light transitions, grain, and layer blending to evoke a dreamy, emotional atmosphere. A key element was the evolving color palette – from the golden hour, through night-time energy, to dawn. The visual rhythm is driven by music, which sets the tempo and mood of each scene. The whole process aimed to intertwine image, motion, and sound into a poetic audiovisual whole.
