From the Page to the Screen: Finding Happy Explores Animation
What if the illustrations from *Finding Happy* could, in turn, come to life? The Albatross Foundation is now exploring this new creative direction through an experimental project led by Hugo, a student at ISART Digital and an intern at the Foundation, who is working on the first animations inspired by the book’s world.
“Finding Happy,” Much More Than Just a Story
Launched at UNESCO in Paris, *Finding Happy* is an illustrated book created by Dr. Ellen Langer, a professor of psychology at Harvard and a pioneer in mindfulness research. Intended for children ages 10 and up, it aims to help them develop self-confidence, resilience, and emotional well-being.
Through a playful and accessible narrative, the book introduces the GLADO method —Generous, Loving, Authentic, Direct, and Open. This approach encourages young readers, in particular, to be more present, to build their self-confidence, and to cultivate kindness toward themselves and others.
Each copy also offers optional access to GaiaVoice, an experimental digital version of Ellen Langer’s work, allowing young readers to extend the experience and explore mindfulness in an interactive way.
What if ” Finding Happy ” came to life?
Following the book and its various adaptations, a new direction is now being explored: animation.
As part of his internship at the Albatross Foundation, Hugo, a student at ISART Digital, is working on animating some of the illustrations from *Finding Happy* to explore what the book’s world might look like on screen. The goal is to explore the possibilities offered by animation while preserving the graphic identity, characters, and spirit of the original project. These initial tests allow us to gradually see the illustrations come to life: the characters move, the backgrounds come to life, and certain scenes begin to transition from the page to the screen.
🎬 Check out the first experimental short films made by Hugo:
The First Steps of a Pilot Project
These short clips are primarily experiments and research into a possible animated adaptation of *Finding Happy*. They allow us to explore different ways of bringing the book’s illustrated world to the screen. The project is still in its early stages, and we don’t yet know where this adventure will take us. These initial experiments, however, offer a glimpse into new possibilities for introducing *Finding Happy* and conveying its messages in a different format.
Through this initiative, the Albatross Foundation is continuing its commitment to developing innovative and accessible educational tools by exploring new formats to reach younger generations.
From the page to the screen, *Finding Happy* is slowly coming to life. ✨
