Description:

No More Vivaldi is a short 2D animated documentary that retells a true story from the 1980s, when the filmmaker’s father worked on an oil rig in the North Sea. In a cramped research unit, he and his partner John McAdam face long shifts, isolation, and one unexpected challenge: a cassette tape played on repeat until it drives him to the edge.

Built from real interview audio, the film captures the tone of a classic story time conversation, vivid, funny, and full of character. The animation style is simple and expressive, with inky linework and a retro colour palette inspired by 1980s cassette tapes and photo slides from the era. The setting is industrial and atmospheric, grounding the absurdity of the story in a real and relatable world.

Created in Toon Boom Harmony and composited in After Effects, this was the filmmaker’s first major solo project. It became a hands-on education in the full 2D animation pipeline, and sparked a lasting interest in colour scripting and compositing. The film also draws inspiration from artists like Komugiko2000, whose work evokes memory through colour and light.

No More Vivaldi is a tribute to family storytelling, a slice of industrial history, and a celebration of how animation can turn even the smallest stories into something unforgettable.