Watch the graphic novel-turned-animation “Pear Cider and Cigarettes”

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Still of animated character running in front of traffic at night

Over five years ago, animator Robert Valley set to work on something that, in many ways, he’d been involved with his entire life: the story of his childhood friend Techno Stypes. A nearly mythic figure, Techno’s journey was as fueled by addiction as it was by a fearless seizing of life. And with Pear Cider and Cigarettes, a new Vimeo Original just released today, Robert’s transformed this true story into a harrowingly beautiful animation.

Pear Cider and Cigarettes is as much about Robert as it is Techno, following over 25 years of friendship and an intimate mix of tumult and affinity. As Techno bounces between admiration and revulsion, bouts of alcoholism, and reckless adventures around the globe, Robert is there through it all — regardless of how it impacts Robert’s own life, which is on an entirely different trajectory.

Robert, acclaimed for his animation work for Gorillaz and Tron: Uprising, first shared Techno’s story as a graphic novel several years ago. In reimagining it for this short, Robert brings the signature character stylings he’s known for, but blends in a new Photoshop finesse, technical prowess, and emotive urgency.

The result is a film undulating with empathetic themes: the bonds of friendship, the lengths we go to for those we love, and the crepuscular edges we all have within us. We reached out to Robert to hear how Pear Cider and Cigarettes came together, the masterful animation techniques within, and his overall filmmaking philosophy.

Storyboard showing the progression from sketch to final art


Why did you feel that it was important to tell Techno’s story now?

I sat on this story for several years before I started working on it. In truth, I was reluctant to start. I knew that once I started I would not be able to quit until it was all over. The problem was this was shaping up to be a very long film, and I was rolling with no budget. This film is about my friend Techno, but in a weird way, it’s also very much about myself. There were lots of things I needed to square up in my head in order to tell this story.


How long did it take to make Pear Cider and Cigarettes?

From the night the script was written to the moment when this film is launched on Vimeo, it will be about five and a half years.

Storyboard showing the progression from sketch to final art


Music plays a huge role in this film, with original tracks from Metallica’s Robert Trujillo as well as songs from Pink Floyd, Wilco, and more. How do you select just the right soundtrack?

Lots of trial and error. Sometimes I would think a song would work, and I’d cut it into the edit and it wouldn’t. Other times I would slap a random song in there and it worked perfectly. All I can say is you can’t really tell how a song works until it’s in the edit. Having said that, I needed certain songs to be in the film to put it in the right time pocket. Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd — that was the music we were listening to back then. I can’t believe we actually got permission to use those songs. 


Because this is based on a true story, what was the process of making this film like for you on a personal level? Are the stakes different?

It’s quite a thing to spend so much time thinking about someone else. I have been accused of dwelling on this story. But the truth is that this is how long it takes to complete an animated film. So yeah … I spent a long time thinking about Techno, and in the process, I started putting some pieces of the puzzle together, and I guess I began to understand Techno a little better. It’s hard to say because Techno isn’t here to comment on it.

Storyboard showing the progression from sketch to final art


You’re well-known for your animations. How would you describe your artistic style? 

To me, my style is perfectly normal. Other people tell me that my figures are exaggerated and distorted; the perspectives are skewed. I was definitely trying to draw more from my imagination than from real life in this movie. That probably adds to the distortion. 


Can you walk me through your animation process, from sketching to the software that brings it to life? 

The point of this project was to bridge graphic novel and animation. I wanted to take actual frames from the book and start animating them. Book vs. Film. Not only that, but I wanted to document the entire process and have a companion project to offer up for education purposes.

Storyboard showing the progression from sketch to final art

Why did you choose to release this film on Vimeo? 

Sounded like a good deal. Nice folks. The potential is there to make some money. 


Were there any unexpected moments in the creative process, or did the final story mirror what you initially envisioned?  

Once I had written the script, I doggedly followed that right to the very end. There were points where people suggested refining the story or combining different parts to make it slicker and less clunky. I resisted all these suggestions for the most part. I wrote this story about someone’s life, as precisely and as accurately as I could recall. But life isn’t a perfect movie, and nor should it be as far as I am concerned. So I resolved to tell an imperfect story.

Storyboard showing the progression from sketch to final art


What are you hoping people take away after watching the film? 

This is a sad story, but it’s also a funny story in some parts. That’s the balance I am trying to strike. Some people have told me after watching the film that they were surprised to see a story like this told in animation. Quite frankly, I have never seen a film like this before. Is there an appetite for it? I don’t know. I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. 


On a similar note, what did you take away from making this film?

This was a pretty big undertaking. At a time in my career when I should have been gathering up as much money as possible for my retirement years, I did the exact opposite and did something that was completely financially unsustainable for several years. What I took away from this is how thoroughly enjoyable this project was. The truth is I could not wait to get up every morning and start working on it. In fact, I could not get up early enough. I loved working on this film. I would not have changed a thing.

You can now see the Vimeo Original ‘˜Pear Cider and Cigarettes,’ available on Vimeo On Demand.


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