Hannah Darrah's creative journey began long before she ever seriously picked up a sketchbook or manipulated clay. Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, she studied dance from age 3 at local studios before attending high school at University of North Carolina School of the Arts as a resident contemporary dance student. In 2009, she was recognized as a YoungArts Modern Dance Finalist.
While dancing professionally for six years, Hannah used her free time to teach herself the craft of clay animation. She was awarded Durham Arts Council’s Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artists Grant in 2014 which funded her first short film, “Trip the Light Fantastic.”
Since then, she has made short films, music videos, and content for clients including Dickinson (Apple TV Plus), Finn Askew (Universal Music Group), Morgxn (Hollywood Records), Guerilla Toss (Sub Pop Records), Pouya (Midvessel), American Aquarium (Losing Side Records), among others.
In 2019, Hannah founded Berlin Studios, a boutique animation studio based near Berlin, New Jersey, a suburb of Philadelphia. In March of 2024 she was acknowledged as a finalist in the Alliance for Downtown New York’s “Filmmaker in Chief” competition.
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ARTIST STATEMENT:
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Clay animation allows me to blend my unique skills and passion for movement, music, storytelling, film, and visual art. Through my work, I explore themes of personal transformation, human relationships, and our connection to the natural world. I invite viewers into vibrant, handcrafted miniature realms that inspire a sense of magic and wonder. The stories I tell are rooted in my personal journey, as well as in literature and mythology.
My creative practice is tedious and all-encompassing. I sculpt tiny clay heads, sew clothing for puppets, and construct miniature sets using cardboard and upcycled materials. From research and storyboarding to character design, animatics, filming, and editing, I oversee every step of my animations.
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My artistic process draws inspiration from the garden I tend in my backyard and my daily walks along the trails behind my South Jersey home. It’s shaped by years of therapy, a deep desire to embrace new perspectives, and the choice to pursue courage over the fear of failure and rejection.
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