Animation
United States of America
Age of Sail is a beautifully animated short film, set in the early 1900s, that tells the story of a lonely and aging sailor named William Avery (voiced by Ian McShane). After the death of his wife, William sets out to sail the seas alone in his creaky old sailboat. One day, while out on the open sea, he spots a young girl named Lara (voiced by Cathy Ang) hanging onto a piece of driftwood after falling off a passenger ship. William immediately rushes to rescue her, despite his own struggles with physical ailments.
As William and Lara set sail together towards their destination, the two form an unlikely bond and a unique friendship is formed. Lara, who is traveling alone to reunite with her father, gives William a renewed sense of purpose and a newfound appreciation for life. In turn, William teaches Lara about the beauty and serenity of sailing and the importance of hope and courage.
The film's stunning visuals, created using a blend of traditional and modern animation techniques, transport viewers to a world of both danger and beauty on the high seas. Age of Sail is a heartwarming and inspiring tale of unlikely friendship, second chances, and the power of the human spirit, all told through the eyes of a grizzled old sailor and a young girl lost at sea.
