For the last few years, the general public might think adapting Neil Gaiman’s work meant sweeping fantasy streaming miniseries. They’ve seen American Gods and Good Omens, might dimly be aware Fox’s Lucifer had something to do with Gaiman, and are about to be blitzed by Netflix finally unleashing The Sandman on the world. Heck, it sounds like Disney may be adapting The Graveyard Book.
But for those who dig deeper, who have read his short stories and his poetry, sometimes it’s an economical yet profound observation that sticks.
Saturday evening at Comic-Con, fans can catch a glimpse of that magic brought to the screen in two animated adaptations. The panel will also include a conversation with the talent involved in giving a different life to Gaiman’s work.
I got a look at one of them, “The Grave of St. Oran,” directed by stop motion filmmaker Jim Batt and based on Gaiman’s poem ‘In Relig Odhrain,’ collected in Trigger Warning. Batt’s vision clinches with artist Ellen Barkin and animator Josh Mahan to tell a philosophical tale of two saints and the murder that binds their legend. Adding the right kind of chills, Gaiman himself narrates over a score by Jherek Bischoff.
Barkin’s detailed art combines with the stop motion effect to evoke an elegant comic book adaptation. St. Oran himself bears a resemblance to Morpheus, perhaps Gaiman’s most famous creation. The allusion works to underscore that this is a story of the permanent impermanence of myth and legend, and of course, Morpheus looks a little like Gaiman himself anyway. His message resonates, and I can’t tell you if it’s a comfort or not in these difficult times. But it is delivered beautifully.
The full panel also includes “We Can Get Them for You Wholesale,” which while philosophical is also darkly funny.
San Diego Comic Con Panel: ADAPTING NEIL GAIMAN’S WORK (a backstage view)
SATURDAY 7/23/22—ROOM 28 DE — 7:00PM – 8:00PMPanelists:
Cat Mihos (writer Lore of the Havamal & VP of Gaiman’s Blank Corp production company)
David Mack (award winning cover artist, creator of Kabuki)
Jim Batt (two-time Emmy nominated stopmotion film director)
Josh Mahan (award-winning animator ofThe Grave of Saint Oran, Marcel The Shell With Shoes On, and many more)
Panelists discuss the challenges and rewards of adapting Neil Gaiman’s work. They will show two short films, Jim Batt’s The Grave of Saint Oran and Jude Gerard Prest’s We Can Get Them For You Wholesale. They will be taking questions!
While it appears Gaiman himself won’t be there, it’s still likely to be a mind-expanding evening — all through the power of storytelling.
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