How 3 animators interpreted the same Whitman poem in different ways

One of the most amazing things about poetry is its seemingly infinite capacity for interpretation. To illustrate that fact, TED-Ed launched a great poetic experiment. We gave one Walt Whitman poem to three of our in-house animators, and asked them to interpret it using three different styles of animation. They were each given a recording of the text to work from, which was supplied by three local poets who also interpreted the text using their voices. The result? A stunning video that breathes three very different lives into Walt Whitman’s timeless poem, “A Noiseless Patient Spider.” 

Interpretation #1 by Jeremiah Dickey

Medium: Paint on Glass

Interpretation #2 by Biljana Labovic

Medium: Video

Interpretation #3 by Lisa LaBracio

Medium: Scratchboard

Watch all of the interpretations here: A poetic experiment: Walt Whitman, interpreted by three animators - Justin Moore

Happy Birthday to Walt Whitman today!

Happy birthday, Emily Dickinson!

From the TED-Ed Lesson A brief history of melancholy - Courtney Stephens

Animation by Sharon Colman Graham

How 3 animators interpreted the same Whitman poem in different ways

One of the most amazing things about poetry is its seemingly infinite capacity for interpretation. To illustrate that fact, TED-Ed launched a great poetic experiment. We gave one Walt Whitman poem to three of our in-house animators, and asked them to interpret it using three different styles of animation. They were each given a recording of the text to work from, which was supplied by three local poets who also interpreted the text using their voices. The result? A stunning video that breathes three very different lives into Walt Whitman’s timeless poem, “A Noiseless Patient Spider.” 

Interpretation #1 by Jeremiah Dickey

Medium: Paint on Glass

Interpretation #2 by Biljana Labovic

Medium: Video

Interpretation #3 by Lisa LaBracio

Medium: Scratchboard

Watch all of the interpretations here: A poetic experiment: Walt Whitman, interpreted by three animators - Justin Moore

In honor of Walt Whitman’s birthday, we’re excited to share these three animated interpretations of one of his poems.

Watch all of the interpretations here: A poetic experiment: Walt Whitman, interpreted by three animators - Justin Moore