Happy 2025, Dear Friends! 🙂 As this new year begins to unfold, I’d like to talk about the direction that Plum Village Productions can (and shall) go in 2025, because I strongly believe this will be the foundation for years to come. But first, a little bit of context from the previous years, and how we reached this point. When we started this animation journey in 2021, the Nature Fairies, Doll Family and I were stepping into a new and exciting realm where the real world met the whimsical. We were eager to animate, and creativity flourished faster than ever before. But near the end of 2021, and despite the Fairies’ and Dolls’ dearest wishes to continue animating, I (the human) reached a point of Creative Burnout. The joy of animating diminished, mostly due to the stresses of everyday life. Sadly, animation (as well as photography, crochet, etc.) became more of a chore than a creative endeavor. Last year was very much a year of finding creative ground again. If I could sum up 2024 in one word, it would be: rediscovery. Rediscovering the joy of telling these stories through the eyes of my dear friends, who exist partly in the miniature world of Fairyland, and partly in the human world. Now that 2025 has begun, I’ve come to realize how much I’ve missed blogging, and writing in general. There’s something magical about sharing the written experience in a form longer than a caption or description. Aside from the post about Plum’s arrival ~ The Tale of Plum ~ this element has been sorely lacking, and I feel that it should be revived. So I’ve decided to return to blogging, and writing in even more depth here than any of the other creative outlets. One of the mistakes I’ve made in the past is embarking on long, sequential, series-type projects (whether it’s stop motion, photo stories, etc.). Reflecting on it now, I think that was partly what led to creative burnout. So while I would love to say there is a set animation path for 2025, I also don’t want to set a creative schedule that is too rigid. There are goals in particular that I would love to materialize this year. A feature-length film might be too ambitious, but it’s a goal nonetheless. The Nature Fairies series will likely return this spring, but for now the main focus is short stop motion clips, to get back into the rhythm of animating. In the summer there will be a longer animation, with more focus on Plum, Little Orchid, and the other Dolls who have yet to star in an animation. Perhaps just as importantly, there will be more behind-the-scenes content throughout. I’m learning to enjoy the process as much as the finished work, and to pause in the midst of animating and look more closely at the present moment, instead of rushing through each scene. I think this way, it will be more enjoyable for everyone. The other really exciting thing I’d like to revive is The Newsletter. I’ve had a mailing list on this site for some time, but haven’t really posted anything or created a follow-up for subscribers. That’s going to change, starting now! And that’s the plan for 2025! 🙂 Writing everything down this way makes it feel much more tangible ~ not a distant idea that’s too far out of reach. Once again, *thank you* for being here, Dear Friends. The Fairies, Dolls and I can’t wait to share more stories as they unfold! Big hugs, Orchid

One day, in the heart of summer, a newcomer arrived in Fairyland. She found a chair that looked like it needed some company, made herself at home, and waited for an Interesting Thing to happen. By and by, she saw a human, and waved a merry hello. For Plum had a feeling this was the human she had been waiting for. “Hello there!” she said. “I’m Plum. I heard you’re looking for a movie star… and here I am!” “Welcome, Plum!” said the human. “I’m Orchid, the animator of Plum Village Productions.” “Ooooh!” squealed Plum. “Did you name your studio after me?” “Actually, it so happens your name matches perfectly.” “In that case, I feel very welcome already.” Plum hopped off the chair and gave her new friend a hug. “Would you like to meet the other dolls, before you begin your acting career?” her human friend asked. “They’re all very excited to meet you.” “Ooooh yes please! I heard there are Nature Fairies here too. Are there very many?” “Yes, you’ll have lots of new friends.” “Marvelous, simply marvelous! Let’s go meet them.” Plum paused for a moment. “Do you have a snack, by chance? I am a little peckish.” ~ And so begin the adventures of Plum, the Doll Family, the Nature Fairies, and one human (Orchid) ~ told through a new creative lens, and based on the perspectives and experiences of these whimsical companions. ✨ Welcome, dear friends. The stories are just beginning. 😊

Before 2020, our dream of animating was simply that: a dream. A distant goal. The Fairies and I had wanted to try stop motion for years, but we were constantly pushing it back. There was always something else to do… we were rushing to live in the ever-running treadmill known as life. Then all of a sudden, life as we knew it – and life as most people knew it – completely changed. The world shut down. Grocery stores were emptied. Everyone had to stay home. At the time, we did not know what would happen. But we wanted to show our perspective of things. The Fairies and I began thinking about how we could create a video to reflect life as it was, with such dramatic changes. Gradually, this animation came together. We brainstormed how to go about filming it, what camera angles to use, and how to convey what most of the world must be feeling: the pang of uncertainty, of not knowing what would happen next. It’s now 2021, and after months of story-boarding, casting, prop gathering, animating, editing, and putting our heart and soul into this animation, it has become real. The interaction between people has changed, and the way we lead our daily lives has changed. We’re still living in that world, but things are starting to look up. Now that ‘Last Day Out’ is officially published, here’s a peek into the first part of our animation journey. Originally, Sweetheart was cast to be the protagonist. She was enthusiastic, and all for it. But her bubbly, carefree persona didn’t quite match what we were looking for in the protagonist – a more solemn, concerned character wondering what would become of the future. So instead, the Fairies decided Sweetheart should star as another shopper – the character the protagonist (Victoria) meets and befriends. Here’s one of our earliest photos from the animation process, before Victoria was chosen for the lead role – Sweetheart discovers the announcement: The layout of the general store took a while to create. We had fun choosing what to have in the scene, and made sure to select only the most suitable props. Here’s another early scene with Sweetheart, as she browses through the antiques section of the general store: There were many other little details that we worked hard to portray realistically – including the 6″ social distancing tape on the floor, the announcement on the chair, and the ‘LAST DAY SALE’ signs. We know the animation isn’t 100% perfect. It has some flicker and some camera shake, and the lighting could have been better. But for us, it’s a start. Our first animation has come to life, and we’re learning as we go. We didn’t use onion-skinning, or any animation-specific software. We took photos, put them together, and created an animation we care deeply about. Above all, we want to remind people not to emotionally distance themselves from one another. Don’t feel alone. Life will be better soon. It already is. Everyone in the world is going through this. Together, we’ll get through the next year, and beyond. Feel free to share your thoughts below, and reach out to us on our other platforms! Stay tuned for more animations! ~ Orchid