Metaphors of flight in response to environmental collapse, gender dysphoria and warfare.

Animalia is an inter-species fairytale about a girl who is disenchanted with the world and wishes she could fly. She joins the circus only to discover it is a secret military operation. She then runs away to the woods and falls under the spell of a mystical deer. When she becomes an antlered deer-creature, she finally achieves flying powers and enters an ethereal world of hybrid creatures. Animalia began as a multi-media performance created by inter-disciplinary artist C. Ryder Cooley. Now the story is coming to life as a unique animation and printed book. Collaborator Bart Woodstrup worked with Ryder, animating her hand drawn illustrations. The Animation is available as a digital download and will be screened alongside Animalia performances. It will also be available as a limited edition DVD with the printed Animalia Book.—Anonymous