Revitalising a fading oral culture through innovative animation production: an experiment with Bodo oral narratives

PurposeThe paper aims to explore animation as a medium to revive the oral narrative of the Bodo community. The Bodo oral narratives are crucial for preserving the tribe's traditional values, but modernization is endangering their oral tradition. Transmitting folk culture to youth is crucial for its continuity and knowledge retention. The objective of the study was to examine the use of animation design approach for the transmission of oral narratives to the young generation.Design/methodology/approachThis design exploration involves a case study, field visit, user study, expert interaction for authentication and questionnaire-based survey. The approach integrates the animation design process with a popular myth of the Bodo tribe's musical instrument, Serja. This exploration seeks to visually present a reliable version of the story based on expert advice and published articles using instructional animation technique.FindingsThe positive response in the user survey suggests that the animation design exploration effectively represented the traditional and cultural aspects of the Bodo community. Feedback and comments from the participants have confirmed that animation can enhance the storytelling experience by effectively communicating oral stories.Research limitations/implicationsThe exploration in this research tries to establish a visual representation of the oral narratives of the Bodo community for the younger generation.Practical implicationsThe exploration in this research tries to establish a visual representation of the oral narratives of the Bodo community for the younger generation.Social implicationsBy using the digital medium, indigenous communities can sustain a long-lasting legacy of their oral stories.Originality/valueThe paper acknowledges the authentic essence of Bodo culture, rooted in their oral stories. Furthermore, it effectively captured and conveyed this essence using an animation design approach.