A National Film Board of Canada production

Chance encounters can leave a lasting imprint, like ink on paper. At 13, Duncan Major met artist Tara Bryan and discovered a shared passion for letterpress printing that shaped his life. In her memory, Duncan created Imprint, a poetic animated film that serves as a heartfelt tribute. Using the letterpress and craft material she passed down to him, the film brings hand-printed art to life with vibrant animation, evocative imagery and a beautifully designed soundscape. Imprint celebrates how the relationships we build echo outward, leaving an enduring legacy.

Chance encounters can leave a lasting effect, like ink on paper. Imprint is a heartfelt animated short about the lasting creative bond between two kindred spirits.

Chance encounters can leave an enduring mark, much like ink on paper. At 13, Duncan Major took a summer job as a printer’s devil. This apprenticeship with artist Tara Bryan awakened a passion for letterpress printing that would shape his life. Years later, in her memory, Duncan has created Imprint—a poetic, handmade animated film that serves as a heartfelt tribute of gratitude and farewell. The film captures the enduring bond between mentor and mentee, inviting viewers to reflect upon the bittersweet joy of cherished moments, even in the face of loss. Using the letterpress and craft material she passed down to him, Duncan brings hand-printed art to life with vibrant animation. The film is an homage to tactile materials and the surprises of the creative process, blending evocative imagery with a beautifully crafted soundtrack. At its core, Imprint reminds us that art is not just what we create, but also the lasting influence we leave on those who follow in our footsteps.

When I was 13, I spent the summer working as a printer’s devil for a book artist. In a jumbled studio filled with books, ink, paper, paint and printing equipment, my employer—Tara Tidwell Bryan—was to make a profound and lasting impression on me. That summer, and throughout my teens, she taught me how to print on her vintage hand-operated presses, setting type one tiny metal letter at a time, carefully assembling her ingenious tunnel, accordion and jack-in-the-box books while we listened to CDs. We had a passion for hands-on creativity in common, and as I went on to embark on a career, start a family and establish a printshop of my own, she remained a best friend and constant mentor on whom I could always rely for knowledge and inspiration.

In 2020, when she was 66, a serious illness unexpectedly dimmed, and eventually extinguished, her bright light. With COVID preventing visits, she was sending friends cheerful daily sketches from her hospital ward.

Imprint is dedicated to Tara. Using the printing equipment she left me as an instrument for animation, I wanted to express the affection we shared for working by hand, for the creative process and for words and letters. I wanted to express the heartache of losing a north star. And in the aftermath of our inexplicable bond being pulled apart, I wanted to ask: When someone is suddenly gone from your life, in what ways are they still present?

One of the things I learned from Tara was the value of play as a creative tactic. My team and I took advantage of experimentation at every stage of the film’s production, involving our sound designer Romesh from very early on, opting for a structure inspired by symphonic movements, and mixing media. I’m grateful to the National Film Board and my family for supporting this process-driven approach.

Tara had a knack for switching on a light in people curious about art. I can only hope that this film can carry forward some of that magic.

Duncan Major

Photo credit: Ned Pratt.

Born in Texas, Tara Bryan (1953–2020) was a beloved figure in both the Newfoundland and Labrador and the international arts communities, renowned for her vibrant career and imaginative works. Whether in paint or on the page, her art captivated viewers and invited them to see the world anew. Known for her stunning landscape paintings and inventive handmade artists’ books created at her own print shop, walking bird press, Tara inspired others with her collaborative spirit and teaching. Her legacy endures through her art, compassion, wit and unyielding creativity.

Contact NFB publicist for high-resolution images for print.