A young shaman must face her first test—a trip underground to visit Kannaaluk, The One Below, who holds the answers to why a community member has become ill.

Director Zacharias Kunuk
Producers Kingulliit Productions, Taqqut Productions, Stop Motion Department
Writers Zacharias Kunuk, Jonathan Frantz
Principal cast Madeline Ivalu, Lucy Tulugarjuk, Jacky Qrunnut

Director of Photography + Animation Evan DeRushie
Technical Director Philip Eddolls
Production Manager Annick Counihan
Art Director Nikki Woolsey
Puppets Karen Valleau, Benjamin Craig
Animators Ghazal Tahernia, Lynn Dana Wilton, Laura Stewart, Luke Mistruzzi, Corinne Roy, Meaghan Hettler, Philip Eddolls, Evan DeRushie, Tina Nawrocki (2D), Dylan Cooney
Costumes Bonni Burns

AWARDS:

One of 15 films short-listed for the 94th Academy Awards

Canadian Screen Awards, 2022
(Best Animated Short award)

Toronto International Film Festival, 2021
(North American Premiere, Best Canadian Short Film award)

Festival Stop Motion Montreal, 2021
(Best Independent Short Film award)

Ottawa International Animation Festival, 2021
(Best Canadian Short Film & Best Narrative Short awards)

Annecy International Animated Film Festival, 2021
(World Premiere, recipient of the FIPRESCI award)

The Shaman’s Apprentice was a massive undertaking for us here at Stop Motion Department. Production took place for all of 2019, and wrapped early 2020. It was an honour and a great challenge for our team to achieve Zacharias Kunuk’s vision for this film in stop-motion. The film premiered on June 15, 2021 at Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

Watch the film online in Canada here: The Shaman's Apprentice on CBC Gem