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The New York Times: Conception: Catie + Jen

We follow Jen and Catie: two sisters struggling with infertility, an unexpected pregnancy and difficult life decisions. Sisterhood and motherhood meet in this powerful story of love, fear and trust.

This film was produced as part of the New York Times’ Conception series, a six-part animated series showcasing different real-life stories about becoming a mother.

  • Directed

    Moth Studio

  • Designed

    Moth Studio

  • Produced

    Moth Studio

  • Senior Producer

    Liz O. Baylen

  • Series Producer

    Margaret Cheatham Williams

  • Coordinating Producer

    Gayatri Kaul

  • Executive Producer

    Liz O. Baylen, Kaylee King-Balentine, Alexandra Eaton

  • Editor

    Daniele Baiardini & Stephanie Andreou

  • Animation

    Joe Bichard, Russ Etheridge, Yu Knifeson, Pablo Lozano, Ross Plaskow, Max Taylor, Claudio Salas, Moth Studio

  • Music composed, conducted and arranged

    Pierre O’Reilly

  • Sound Design

    Ally Mobbs

  • Vocalist

    Triona O'Neill

  • Audio Mix

    Eli Epstein

  • Graphics

    Aaron Byrd, Joanna Neborsky

  • Client

    The New York Times

  • Production year

    2018

We approached their story with the subtlety and gentleness it deserved, adding the pomegranate as a metaphor for fertility and as the device that takes us through the film and the powerful decision that the sisters take as the film concludes.

We wanted the design to be very minimal, yet elegant and sophisticated, having the two female forms guiding our eye through the textured and prop-based environments. Similar to our last film for the New York Times (Modern Love: A Kiss, Deferred), we wanted the visuals to support the poignant and powerful narration of the subjects without ever distracting from them.

We saw our involvement in the project as an opportunity to speak up about a sensitive subject that is not widely talked about, and that affects millions of women around the world. Both alternate motherhood and PCOS, the condition that Jen suffers from, are issues that need to be brought to light and that people should be made aware of. In a period where women’s voices are becoming stronger and more respected, we are proud to have made a film that represents two strong women finding their voice through the beauty of motherhood.