Young Djardi falls asleep at the campsite, but dreams of gliding across Bundjalung & Gumbaynggirr Country on the back of a warm, fluffy sugar glider.
Studio Gilay’s animation for Ninganah Lullaby weaves both human and spirit entities into the story of a young boy (Djardi) who falls into a slightly surreal dream on a camping trip.
In his dream he snuggles up on the back of a giant Squirrel Glider and soars above Country. Language, knowledge and kinship are entwined with plant, animal, sky and waterways.
In addition, we celebrate lesser known (and endangered) animals around Bundjalung & Gumbaynggirr Country. The Goonge (Ghost) spirits are sleepy little dancers. Their choreography, a rhythmic hypnosis that washes sleepiness over the animals.
Ninganah Lullaby was created on the lands of the Bundjalung and Gadigal people.
The original song was written and performed by Troy Cassar-Daley and includes Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr language. It is set on Gumbaynggirr Country (his Nan’s / Mother’s Country).
For Troy the song is about camping as a kid with his cousins and being asked to settle down and go to sleep – which was always hard to do. It’s about trying to be quiet and still at night time, even though you’re excited.
Production credit: Original Song Troy Cassar-Daley (Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung). Creative Director Jake Duczynski. Producer James Hackett and Melissa Azizi. Production Company Studio Gilay (Gadigal land, Eora Nation) ABC Executive Producer Margaret Ross, ABC Commissioning Editor Nicole Cheek.
