Ethan Manley- BA (Hons) Animation
Mystery Blues
I am an animator/illustrator based in the Greater Manchester area. I mostly animate in 2D, although I do a bit of stop motion every now and then.
My third year film, Mystery Blues, is inspired by the dark and foreboding world of film noir. It features sound design by Jack Winterbottom and music by Theo Brockbank. The story follows Lars Found, a private detective who receives a task from an anonymous client: go to a diner, follow a man named Viggo, and report what you see. It sounds like just another surveillance job, but it all seems eerily familiar. Could Viggo hold the key to Lars' enigmatic memories?
The film covers the first half of my original animatic, acting as an introduction to the world and characters. I was inspired by a range of artists & creators, including: Amedeo Modigliani, Paul Auster, David Mazzucchelli, and David Lynch, among many others.
Across my three years at MMU, I have learned a lot about animation, and I look forward to continuing to develop my style and technical skills through future creative projects.
I hope you enjoy seeing what the class of 2026 has created. Good luck to everyone.
