The Windmill Farmer

A nurturing farmer in is danger of losing his crop of windmills when he struggles against the cyclical forces of nature. Created at the UCLA Animation Workshop, with music by Nick Fevola.
This film was inspired while driving back from a trip to Palm Springs, when a friend said that it must take them forever to plant and grow so many windmills. I wrote down the title The Windmill Farmer for an idea to explore later, and about a year later I started developing it into a character and story.
This film took 4 months to complete from the first boards until the final mix.
Release date: June 5th 2010
Format: HD 1920x1080 px, 16:9
Awards and Honors ###
Greenstorming Film Festival '15 (Germany) - Winner, Green Flicks
Box[ur]shorts Film Festival '12 (CA) - Best Student Film
Angelus Student Film Festival '11 (CA) - Honorable Mention in Animation
Possible Futures Film Contest '11 (Online) - People's Choice Award
Film Festivals and Screenings ###
06/05/10 - UCLA Festival of Animation 2010 (CA)
12/03/10 - Anchorage Film Festival (AK)
12/04/10 - International Short Film Festival Leuven (Belgium)
01/14/11 - Wild & Scenic Film Festival (CA)
04/08/11 - Citrus Cel Animation Film Festival (FL)
05/12/11 - Filmoteca de Catalunya (Spain)
06/22/11 - Goelali Children's Film Festival (Indonesia)
07/01/11 - FILE Electronic Language International Festival (Brazil)
07/03/11 - The Far North Conservation Film Festival (AK)
07/25/11 - Possible Futures Film Contest (Online) Prize awarded
10/08/11 - Angelus Student Film Festival (CA) Prize awarded
11/01/11 - Paraguay Ra'anga / Imagenes del Paraguay (Uruguay)
11/01/11 - Paraguay Ra'anga / Imagenes del Paraguay (Spain)
11/04/11 - Microwave International New Media Arts Festival (Hong Kong)
01/19/12 - Filmoteca de Catalunya (Spain)
03/10/12 - Pictou-Antigonish Library Animation Festival (NS, Canada)
03/10/12 - Box[ur]shorts Film Festival (CA) Prize awarded
04/12/12 - Ashland Independent Film Festival (OR)
12/02/12 - Sustainable Living Film Festival (Turkey)

[@Sheisinvisible]

I remember watching this when I was around 4-5 years old, now I’m filled with old memories from my childhood

[@reubenpohan2483]

Same

[@leonclatworthy2799]

I first saw this when I was about 6 now I'm 13 and I'm back lol

[@leonclatworthy2799]

I first saw this when I was about 6 now I'm 13 and I'm back lol

[@EpicArmo976]

I moved next to a wind farm and I loved this video

[@TheFanOfFans04]

SAMEE

[@PainterAustrian4]

Probably not the only one who loved windmills and regular mills back in the day. Mainly in the Netherlands here. I used to watch this at 5 years old and now i see this video again. Brings back so much nostalgia. Greetings from the netherlands ❤

[@Roanvarga]

ik was echt altijd de enige in de klas die van molens hield haha

[@itzdubplayzio1273]

The first time I watched this as a kid. Man, I miss those days.

[@TheBeyonderHS]

Same

[@migrainemama7932]

My five-year-old twins are obsessed with wind mills and watch this story over and over again and even kiss the screen. They sometimes wish they were part of a wind mill family. Oh The imagination of a child. Lovely story!!!!

[@joabaldwin]

Thank you! I'm glad they like it so much :D

[@vincentrobinette1507]

I too am a big fan of the big fans.

[@LuisPuenteAceves]

I love this video. I think it is wonderful for my students to watch it and learn from this beautifully told story. Wonderful animation, beautiful colors, an amazing lesson of love! Thank you from the bottom of my heart...🥇

[@joabaldwin]

thanks so much, Luis!

[@riteshvarma8700]

This film inspired me to learn animation in 2010. I still watch this whenever I feel low. Thank you Joaquin for making this. I owe you a lot.

[@joabaldwin]

Thank you so much! That's so nice of you to say, totally made my day

[@pchelka2509jk]

Użytkowników hsijKla ak. C SEA} £

[@jonathangazit4739]

when i was in first grade, this video certainly inspired me in one way or another that there is always hope, looking back 9 years and seeing this animation truly gives me goosebumps all over again, thank you for such amazing work.

[@joabaldwin]

That is so sweet of you to say, makes me super happy. It also just freaked me out that it has been 9 years since I made this already, holy crap...

[@qaiser1277p]

SHIT

[@johnbenton4488]

This little film carries a message. The message is simple. "Never give up hope"

[@Dantevi0us]

That was lovely

[@johnbenton4488]

And poignant.

[@jimmyandchristinaandamanda598]

I watch this in 2014 this and found it again it’s so heart warming Edit: OMG thank you so much for liking my comment Joaquin Baldwin! Your The Best!

[@juliamahmoud-wj2ps]

I used to watch this when I was 5 years old with my brother this video I will never forget of my childhood 😢❤

[@TitilayosChronicles]

It's so sad that all his windmills started breaking and he did all the hard work so you can make us form nicer

[@GingerFilms892]

2:00 It’s like a reference to the Danish wind turbine accident, but still nostalgic

[@ItsJustJay737]

I know I have some serious mental health issues but I'd never see myself crying on the toilet at 3 am after watching a KZbin video about windmills.

[@joabaldwin]

[@addam814]

This is my 3 year old sons favorite video. I even painted a still of it on the wall of his bedroom! Even daddy loves this vid! The music compliments it so much! Great job!

[@WolfeSandy]

+Addam hummel That is sad. I hope your son will be able to understand the truth in time.

[@TimelessMediaProd]

It's our soon to be three year olds favorite video too! :)

[@karolinaliskiewicz9052]

amh amh w.

[@EvadeRoblox-f5k]

ججكجججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججججحح

[@AbS-ls9wh]

One of the most beautiful stories and the way it is depicted. Life itself is beautiful, we just gotta see. That's what I'll take from this. Thank you!

[@IskandarAlex2]

Brings back a lot of memories when I was a kid watching this, good memories.

[@maccadee2004]

my 18 month old daughter is obsessed with windmills after a trip to a wind farm. i have just found this animation and she absolutely loves it. thank you so much, i'm sure we will be watching this most days from now on

[@pastornitin4109]

after 4 or 3 years i finally get to see this beautiful story again in this year 2022

[@akhtersheikh4361]

This gives me nostalgia from 7 years ago. 😢

[@feemr8660]

my 4 year old found this and he really enjoys watching it. he loves windturbines and this is perfect for him to watch. beautiful work. we hope to see some more of your work on windturbines 🤗

[@IskandarAlex2]

He's just like me when I was a kid, likes wind turbines, a lot

[@Diamondbranch2013]

Dude I loved this when I was 3 years old

[@Igniteyz6]

The nostalgia it comes back to me this is why I loved windmills because of " *you* "

[@xXCH1MPXx]

This actually made me cry a little bit...

[@Aartwood]

one of the most beautiful, creative and emotional pieces of animation I have ever seen! and that includes toy story and howls moving castle, I could watch that every day and never get bored, top notch!

[@scarlet-e4x892]

I'm so happy for the farmer after he lost the windmills and he so happy that more windmills grew

[@whoisaskinglol3746]

This guy just saved the earth in two different ways!

[@heathgraves2978]

This is my childhood.

[@th3rty321]

omg i used to watch this as a child

[@speedyninja42]

Yeah me too

[@MrGronchLoog]

Same

[@D3LTA-EDITS]

Same

[@Blackairaviationofficial]

Same

[@MrP0BS]

This is my son's favourite thing on the whole of KZbin. Thank you from him.

[@wangshuh]

it makes me feel so much lonely when i am watching this, no word at all, happy alone, and sad alone, just his shadow in the whole world.

[@miguel03051996]

Amazing, i don't have words to describe this job, really inspired

[@joabaldwin]

@natEmation No problem. The weather vein (rooster) and the windmills (only when they break apart) are in 3d, rendered out as swf files in Maya. I used a shatter effect with gravity/collisions in Maya so I wouldn't have to animate all the little pieces by hand.

[@coasterboy1233]

This makes my child memory I watch this every day by myself I like this video so much thank you for adding windmill video I love all the windmill especially I like to be an engineer

[@WeirdsBestFriend]

This makes me have chills every time I watch it.. So good.

[@ChaduvukondiFirstu-vw8fe]

Are you still alive?

[@burnttree08]

idk why but this kinda gives me song of the sea vibes its really good

[@NINA1542009]

Another touching theme. I really love the stories you tell and of course the different ways you have told them. Great animation once again!

[@axlparker9569]

Dunno if anyone gives a damn but yesterday I hacked my girl friends Instagram account using instablaster.

[@joabaldwin]

@TomaszBurnat Thanks! I am currently working at Disney, so I don't have any new shorts of my own, but I have some ideas that I'll definitely work on in the future :)

[@kevinburchell1987]

super scentence stakers awsome vid

[@mlbuhljr]

This reminds me of an old movie called "The Rare Breed" in which a rancher bought a rare, prize-winning bull. They found the bull did not survive a killer blizzard, but the next year, they found many calves who had his markings. :-)

[@joabaldwin]

For 3D animation, Maya... For 2D animation, probably Flash or ToonBoom. They all take a long time to learn, but you can find a lot of free tutorials online.

[@emilywilson-barry1308]

This is a beautiful animation. I showed this to my 18 month old who literally walks around all day saying "windmill, windmill, windmill". His reaction when they blew down choked me up! And WolfeSandy you can save your breath I've seen your same reply to every single person's comments.

[@shahed.arbidmohamad2058]

huh?

[@catgirljmay2016]

Watching this for school👍🏼

[@cukegames6977]

+CatgirlJmay same

[@dhriti6346]

Same

[@cobiesutton8394]

Same lol i watch to cheat

[@olia6549]

Same

[@mfmm6699]

Same

[@sierraa72]

OH YES THIS VIDEO IN MY RECOMMENED AFTER 5 YEARS

[@Beeebeejuu]

This deserves some sort of Oscar or award of some kind...

[@Nash_IsValkryie8]

i'm crying!!! The nostilgia

[@mlbuhljr]

This video reminds me of an old Jimmy Stewart movie called "The Rare Breed." In the movie, JS buys a prize bull for his ranch. The bull dies in a blizzard, but the next spring brings many calves with the bull's markings.

[@bigboibeckgamer7683]

Good short film

[@artgriphon]

It's fine! Thanks. The good philosophy, good idea, good mood... Thanks!!

[@jessgrn]

Thanks for this gem ❤️👌🙏 so peaceful and meaningful

[@beth7279]

I cried watching this.

[@greysplace2747]

I just watched this after like 3 or 4 years and cried

[@AulisA.O.T]

Back to 12 years old animation!

[@WolfeSandy]

This is sad, because it anthropomorphizes a thing that is very painful to the people who have to live near them or who have lost their home and/or livelihood to them. It also implies a crop that can stand alone, when wind farms need intense scaffolding to operate. So, in the spirit of anthropomorphizing, that wind turbine crop actually would prefer to rest in the ground than try to struggle through their morbid existence, and they are very grateful if we would not try to leach the seeds of truth out of them in order to force them to rise again.

[@vincentrobinette1507]

I've heard quite the opposite. some farmers allocate a small percentage of their acreage to erect turbines. They lease their land to the sites, thus, they have an uninterrupted source of income, regardless of drought years. It's a super easy way to expand their income portfolios. They are very easy to farm around. They can plant crops to within a few yards of the towers. I would do it in a heart beat.

[@Roguepanda79]

What happened in the Hokkaido region when the wind farms got destroyed by a typhoon

[@tntplayzexe8909]

who came back to this video after 7-8 years

[@aless1993]

oh, it is beautiful... and the music makes it even better... It transports you... congrats. Excelente Joaquin, saludos desde Paraguay

[@Mrsdiamondogs]

La primera vez que ví que un parque eólico tarde mucho en salir de mi asombro. La imponencia de estas estructuras sobre el paisaje me trasladaron una especie de película de horror. Más allá de la discusión sobre la valoración de un paisaje natural sobre uno transformado, vale la pena preguntarse si las energías alternativas contribuirán realmente a mitigar las emisiones de GEI o simplemente son retardantes del posible colapso natural en un mundo que se niega a cambiar sus patrones de consumo.

[@mygamingchannel9945]

This is verry nostalgic 😭

[@pinkYvetteMAS]

i loved it.. that was great, as expected from joaquin baldwin, mah favorite XD. and i love the music.. perfect!

[@binhluu9823]

pinkYvetteMAS d🇼🇸🇿🇲🇼🇸🇻🇪

[@Smonteamores]

es una verdadera joyita! excelente corto! es un historia muy esperanzadora...

[@ladyjedi3D]

I've always loved windmills. And I really loved ceiling fans when I was little. Thought of them. As indoor Windmills. Movie wasbBeautiful, peaceful..sweet... I Just picked up a windmill for My yard last Night.. Been wanting one. Gonna make it look. Old and aged

[@vincentrobinette1507]

I'm also a big fan of the big fans.

[@5nightsatfreddys486]

I love this. I liked the part ware he dances because there was windmills evry where where!😀

[@ulisesperu2896]

Me alegra que te emocionen esos momentos que derriban creencias que nos limitan en el mundo¡¡

[@pinkrocio]

Qué lindas texturas compatriota... adelante!

[@cmccarreiro]

That's a happy windmill farmer. Like!

[@WolfeSandy]

+cmccarreiro Don't like. Wind turbines are hazardous to the health and the land.

[@badname3659]

@@WolfeSandy oh ur pretty stupid arent ya?

[@k1rw684]

hi I love this and am 11 yrs old thank u its rlly nice of u its amazing and I'm learning it in school

[@joabaldwin]

Thank you! Very happy you enjoyed it.

[@GraceDragonfly]

thank you for a wonderful experience...I loved watching this moving piece of animation.

[@grandmiguelito]

I use to watch this in my uncle computer, ah nostalgia 😢👍

[@greenschmoodle]

Your videos always make me tear up. I love your work! I'm glad I got to meet you, you are quite an amazing young man.

[@MsKullyD]

My kids have watched this about 1 million times lol we love you thank you for making this!!!

[@smilinglimpet]

so beautiful

[@chompythechomperchomp]

what a great piece of art

[@dangershark6173]

Watching this for school 😫 but very good job 😀

[@little_cactuss4775]

same

[@hamiltonbros2005]

The windmills make magic to teletubbies!

[@Brainstrain91]

Fantastic! And I do love happy endings. Especially loved the textures on the background hills, just beautiful :)

[@zlorpp5553]

Are They organic?!

[@bardib3459]

1 sub with No vids you suck

[@emmettwilson9261]

Yes they are

[@SheldonDD]

1 sub with No vids what do you mean brada

[@vincentrobinette1507]

Free range turbines. No GMO's.

[@riesenflugzeug]

nostalgic trip

[@shahed.arbidmohamad2058]

Omg this is so sad. We used this example at school we were writing about when the storm happened and we are an animal that saw what was happening and we were retelling this story from a perspective of a horse or any other animal or living thing. If ur a teacher and u were looking for something to write about use this u could use pathetic fallacy or personification, metaphors or similes( u could fit juxtaposition ) I'm a yr 6 and i find it so heart breaking. this has inspired me to write my own story like this and include other thing thank u for uploading this video its amazing. keep the hard work up...Thanks

[@joabaldwin]

Thank you, I'm glad you found my film inspiring

[@1ningraj]

Awesome NICK FEVOLA. I get relaxed whenever i hear this wonderful music, amazing stuff, keep going Nick And Joa

[@sjroycroft]

What a great video. As a primary teacher, I am going to share it with some children to help inspire their writing. Thank you.

[@SoundingFeelings]

wonderful...! thank you Joaquin :-)

[@tavi6582]

this was a sad,happy video

[@joabaldwin]

@evilmonkeyFG Thanks! I've been into animation for over 10 years, but I started making narrative shorts more seriously about 5 years ago.

[@UnethicallyGoodIdeas]

Bro this video was my childhood

[@TCGMwind]

Nice little story. I can relate to the farmer.

[@WolfeSandy]

... but in truth the farmer cannot relate to the turbines.

[@vincentrobinette1507]

@@WolfeSandy I disagree. Farmers are realizing that leasing land to these projects is a very easy way to diversify their portfolios. The reliable income from having wind turbines on their land can really help in the event of a failed crop or severe drought. They don't take up much space, compared to the income they generate.

[@joabaldwin]

@paokole2 Thanks! And thanks for the first comment, I just finished uploading this minutes ago.

[@MultiGracie2010]

Esta muy bueno! Mucho Talento, felicidadez!

[@TheBlanketsAreC0ld]

9 people don't like windmill farmers.

[@velvet2230]

Little wind turbines = BIG wind turbines = Broken Wind turbines = Snow = A LOT OF wind turbines These wat happen when da evolution of da wind turbines

[@emilyyyyy_cd]

I watch this several times at once. I LOVE IT! (Not just because I have to watch it for school :))

[@silnetofsn]

this is poetry in a video style!

[@slurpthatdick]

I remember watching this when i was younger i just remembered this and had to come back 😅

[@OverLordSky]

Wow man, totally awsome. I really enjoyed watching that. Felt good. Nice idea with the growing windmills..interesting.

[@-hit6570]

For some reasons it make me relax

[@dhriti6346]

The music is beautiful

[@shahed.arbidmohamad2058]

i know it really sets the scene

[@RoHyper]

I watch this when I was little now I am back

[@Smoothbluehero]

Amazing, simply amazing

[@TomaszBurnat]

Do you work on something new? Or did you leave this beautiful passion? It's been 1,5 year since The Windmill Farmer!!! :-( Greetings from Poland :-)

[@TomaszBurnat]

I came here to check on you after 10 years, can't believe how time flies! :)

[@adrianacabrera1648]

I love it. Thanks

[@nonsequitur1979]

That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing!