Four years in the making, Ra was created and shot entirely in Glasgow by Persistent Vision Animation, Scotland's only animation studio at the time. The film combines traditional animation techniques with special optical effects to produce a dream-like evocation of Ancient Egyptian beliefs about the Creation and Man's place within it.
The first part of the film is given over to the Egyptian Genesis. The Egyptians had many gods and goddesses and creation myths. Ra brings these myths together in a single version and concentrates on the story of Osiris and Isis and their battle with their evil brother Set.
Part two shows the intertwining of the world of the gods with that of the Divine Pharaoh, whom the ancient Egyptians believed to be the son of the Sun God Ra. The life of the Divine Pharaoh is depicted as a journey through the rituals which surround his initiation into temple life.
In death, the Pharaoh continues his journey in the Underworld in the boat of the Sun God Ra, travelling through the twelve hours of night and conquering the powers of darkness before being resurrected at the dawn of the new day.
Written, animated and directed by
Lesley Keen
Produced by
Jan Čulík
Original music composed by
Tom Rennie
with Stuart McInnes
Voice Artists
Tamara Kennedy
Michael Mackenzie
Consultant Egyptologist
Dr. Geraldine Pinch
Production Co-ordinator
Fiona McGregor
Matte Artist
Janet Forry
Specialist Tracing
Alan Mason
Special Effects Rostrum Camera
Mike Campbell
originally commissioned by
CHANNEL FOUR TELEVISION CORPORATION
in association with
THE SCOTTISH FILM PRODUCTION FUND