SHADOWS UNLEASHED
Shadows Unleashed is an animated short that was commissioned by The Triangle Wind Ensemble. The animation is set to the song of the same name composed by Brian Balmages. The project was a collaboration between myself, Kirby Culbertson, and Margo Jordan. It premiered on April 26th 2026 at the Triangle Wind Ensemble's 25th anniversary gala concert.
Story, Characters, Animation, VFX, and Rendering - Marc Russo
Animation Direction, Modeling, and Animation - Margo Jordan
Character Modeling/Rigging, and Animation - Kirby Culbertson
Music - Brian Balmages
25th Anniversary Animation Project
Revisiting Sebastian
“Shadows Unleashed” serves as a prequel to the previous collaboration with TWE, “Sheltering Sky.” It continues the journey of Sebastian, a curious forest creature whose world explores themes of wonder and discovery.
To bring this vision to life, Russo collaborated with two former students, Kirby Culbertson and Margo Jordan, highlighting a successful bridge between academic mentorship and professional production.The premiere offered a unique interactive component that blurred the line between audience and performer.
LIVE PERFORMANCES
The animation is available to the wind band community as a whole so that their ensembles and audiences can share in the experience that is this Sheltering Sky Project. K-12 school band programs across the country and world will have access to the film for free.
FOLEY APP
Attendees were invited to download a foley application onto their smartphones, allowing them to contribute live sound effects throughout the short film. This immersive experience turned the family-friendly performance into a collective soundscape, engaging the audience in the storytelling process.
This project represents a sophisticated blend of animation, live orchestral performance, and mobile technology. By integrating interactive digital tools with classical ensemble music, "Shadows Unleashed" offers a glimpse into the future of collaborative multimedia arts within the academic and local community.