“Whale 52 is a thrillingly original creation to watch…its final revelation took my breath away.”

—Sir Ian McKellen

International Originals and Bill Plympton

Blue text reading 'PRESENT' on a white background with blue lines above and below.

Whale 52 draws on the legend of the “loneliest whale” as a mute boy 
and an aging widower, bound by loss and silence, discover a 
magical journal that lets them hear each other’s unexpected connection.

Produced & Animated by Bill Plympton
Executive Produced & Written by
 Edward Jordon & Daniel Neiden
Based on a true story by Edward Jordon
Directed by
 Daniel Neiden

Screenings

    • Saturday, October 18th, Woodstock Film Festival

Our Story

When a silently grieving 80-year-old school volunteer is assigned to work with Enam, a selectively mute third-grader, the two embark on a poignant journey by means of a magical pen and journal that enables them to communicate until young Enam summons the courage to utter the one word that lifts the weight of the world off his tiny shoulders. Like a whale coming to the surface for air, Enam is finally able to breathe in the film’s poignant reveal.

Award-winning screenwriter and educator Edward Jordon based the story of Whale 52 on events from his personal life as a once-closeted gay man using the arts to reach students who were selectively mute. Co-writers and Co-producers Edward Jordon and Daniel Neiden have synthesized those experiences into a magically real world, brought vividly to life by animator Bill Plympton and Director Daniel Neiden.

With Whale 52 – “Suite for Man, Boy, and Whale” Director Daniel Neiden delivers a celebration of music, friendship, bravery, and the joy of being heard.

The Legend of Whale 52

The title is taken from maritime folklore about a whale that’s been labeled the “loneliest whale on the planet” because he can only emit sounds at 52 Hertz, a frequency that no other whale can hear. It’s believed that “Whale 52,” as he’s known, travels the oceans of the world desperately searching for other whales like himself. Some believers even suggest that the sounds he makes are cries for help. The legend of Whale 52 provides the backdrop for an evocative “suite for man, boy, and whale” with original music composed by Scott Li and Qiujiang Levi Lu – performed by the composers along with Grammy® Award winning cellist Zuill Bailey and Broadway conductor Charles Czarnecki on piano.

Colorful sketch of a man's face with blue eyes, reddish hair, and distinctive facial features, signed "Mia Pillo" and dated 2007.

The Magic of Bill Plympton

Bill Plympton is an American original with an international following; a proudly independent animator, cartoonist, director, screenwriter, and producer known for his distinctive, hand-drawn style and signature pencil-sketch aesthetic.

Born in 1946 in Portland, Oregon, he began his career as an illustrator and political cartoonist before creating acclaimed animated shorts like the Academy Award®-nominated Your Face (1987) and Guard Dog (2004).

With over 50 international awards to his credit, Bill has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the National Cartoonist Society, the Annie Awards, Fantasporto, the Spark Animation Festival, and the Woodstock Film Festival. His shorts and features have been screened at the world’s most prestigious festivals including Cannes, Annecy, SXSW, Sundance, and more.

“Bill Plympton is the father of indie animation.”
—Terry Gilliam

Close-up portrait of a middle-aged man with gray hair, blue eyes, and round glasses, smiling softly.

Director, Co-Producer, Co-Writer

Daniel Neiden is an Emmy®-winning actor and Drama League-winning theater director.

He was protégé to Elizabeth Swados on thirteen collaborations including BOOK OF JOB, THE HATING POT, Bonnie Hammer’s ERASE THE HATE, GROUNDHOG, and JERUSALEM.

Over the years, Daniel has produced and directed theatrical events featuring some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry including Meryl Streep, Mike Nichols, Kathleen Turner, Milton Berle, Jack Gilford, Dr. John, Anne Meara, Ruby Dee, and more.

In 1992, Daniel voiced the role of “Del” in Bill Plympton’s musical feature, THE TUNE, which was a Sundance Grand Jury Nominee.

Daniel Neiden

A man sitting on the floor with his arms resting on his knees, wearing glasses, a hat, a scarf, a coat, jeans, and boots.

Edward Jordon

Co-Producer, Co-Writer

Back in the 20th Century, Edward wrote and directed the indie feature The Original Cast Album adapted from a stage play he scripted while pursuing a doctorate in Theater at New York University. In 1996, his feature doc, It’ll Have Blinking Eyes & A Moving Mouth, co-directed with Emmy®-winning cinematographer Jeb Bergh, was invited to screen alongside Oscar® nominees and winners in the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Contemporary Documentary Series.

Edward is also the proud recipient of over twenty international screenwriting and filmmaking awards.

In between industry gigs, Edward has worked as an Adjunct University Instructor of screenwriting, special educator at the elementary and high school levels, and, as he affectionately says, “teacher of kids with a flair for the dramatic.”

Whale Music

A woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing glasses and a black shirt, outdoors at night.

Qiujiang Levi Lu

Qiujiang Levi Lu/卢秋江(they/them) is a NYC-based performance artist, experimental musician, composer, and educator. As a collaborative musician/improviser, Lu makes up half of the Chinese-American experimental electronic act Warp Duo with fellow improviser and violinist Scott Li, which fuses deeply emotional and melodic music with maximalist sound design. Lu has also performed extensively across the country with artists such as Ka Baird, Zoh Amba, Dennis Sullivan, Shannon Yu, Laura Cocks, Dana Jessen, Drew Wesely, Manuel Perez III, Adam Kantz, Julian Pujols Quall, and Camilo Ángeles.

A young man with curly hair smiling outdoors, wearing a light-colored shirt and a necklace, with a blurred background of trees and buildings.

Scott Li

Scott Li is a classically trained violinist, composer, performer, improviser, filmmaker, recording engineer, and sound artist blending the tonal Romantic chamber music tradition with emotive experimental ambient electronic music. Hailed by The Crossfader as “one of the pioneers of the next generation’s classical music”, Li’s compositions fuse modular synthesis, live processing, fixed media, film, photography, dance, and prose with elements of classical chamber music to “create a simultaneous understanding of The Beautiful and The Sublime, while exhibiting unparalleled emotional induction.” (Téa Mottolese, The Crossfader, 2019)

Person playing a cello with a joyful expression, sitting against a plain background.

Zuill Bailey

Zuill Bailey, widely considered one of the premiere cellists in the world, is a Grammy® Award winning, internationally renowned soloist, recitalist, Artistic Director and teacher. His rare combination of celebrated artistry, technical wizardry and engaging personality has made him one of the most sought after and active cellists today.

Man smiling and pointing with a pen in an alleyway

Charles Czarnecki

Charles Czarnecki is a Creative Entrepreneur working in international entertainment industries as a music supervisor, music producer, conductor, orchestrator, vocal arranger, pianist, executive producer, curator, creative consultant, development/marketing consultant & pitch ninja. Broadway credits include conductor of Jersey Boys.

Cast

A smiling woman with blonde hair, red glasses, and a black shirt with a dog printed on it.

Bruce Vilanch

Bruce Vilanch is an American comedy writer, songwriter, and actor.

He is a two-time Emmy Award®-winner. Vilanch is best known to the public
for his four-year stint on Hollywood Squares, as a celebrity participant.
Behind the scenes, he was head writer for the show.

Co-Starring Parker Allana Hughes as Enam

…and Crew

  • Directed by Daniel Neiden

  • Written and Produced by Edward Jordon & Daniel Neiden

  • Produced and Animated by Two-Time Oscar® Nominee, Bill Plympton

  • Starring Two-Time Emmy® Award Winner, Bruce Vilanch

  • Original Music composed by Scott Li and Qiujiang Levi Lu ,
    performed by Scott Li and Qiujiang Levi Lu with Grammy® Award Winner Cellist,
    Zuill Bailey, and Broadway conductor Charles Czarnecki on piano

  • Music Supervision by Charles Czarnecki

  • Sound Design and Mix by Jacob Clements & Jacob Wolfe

  • Produced and Edited by Owen Andrejco

  • Studio Manager Bianca Rose Alejos

An animated whale with two tiny astronauts on its back, swimming underwater with sunlight filtering from above.

The Trevor Project

As lifelong allies of the LGBTQ+ community, Bill Plympton and I are delighted that a significant portion of the proceeds from Whale 52 are earmarked for The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention in youth.  So much of my life’s work in theater and film has focused on socially conscious art.  Now, at a time when cutbacks in federal funding are severely impacting social services, we hope the poignant message of Whale 52 will inspire audiences to contribute to a host of charitable organizations that are on the brink of disappearing.

—Daniel Neiden, Director & Co-Producer

The logo of The Trevor Project on an orange background.

National Publicity

Carol Marshall, carol@cmarshallpr.com
Carri McClure, carridmcclure@icloud.com

Social Media & Marketing
Big Noyes, bigwigs@bignoyes.com

Press Inquiries
Please contact Joe Trentacosta at joe@jt-pr.net

Press kit coming soon