Loka the Little Stork

by Damir Grbanović and Lea Vučko

Štorklja Loka, animated series, 2D animation, 1,77:1 (16:9), 25, c, 7 min
In progress

In a big nest, a little stork named Loka hatches. While browsing the family album, she discovers birds she has never seen before. Curious, she learns they are called “endangered”. Loka sets off on a journey to find these birds herself. Along the way, she meets a tawny owl, a woodpecker, and a duck- each explaining why they are not (yet) endangered and how their survival depends on a healthy environment. When Loka pulls a plastic bottle from the river instead of a fish, she encounters human impact for the first time. She realizes that she too can help the endangered birds. Her parents then give her a map, showing her where they live — and where her next adventures will begin.

screenwriters
Damir Grbanović, Lea Vučko
directors
Damir Grbanović, Lea Vučko
producer
Damir Grbanović
lead animator
Lea Vučko
director of photography
Lea Vučko
music composer
Janez Dovč
film editor
Damir Grbanović
sound designer
Julij Zornik

production
Octopics
co-funding
Slovenian Film Centre, RTV Slovenija
distribution
Octopics
sales
Octopics

Octopics
Damir Grbanović
octopicsinfo@gmail.com

Lea is self-employed in culture and works in different fields of visual arts. She ventured into the world of animation after completing her studies in illustration at ALUO, Ljubljana. As an animator, she has worked on several projects such as: "Princ Ki-Ki-do: A Cup of Tea" (Grega Mastnak, 2015), "Podlasica" (Timon Leder, 2016), "Orange is The New Black: Unraveled" (Špela Čadež, 2017), and the production of the Ljubljana Puppet Theatre show "Somewhere Else" (Tim Grabnar, 2017). In 2016, she began a creative collaboration with her partner, Damir Grbanović. In 2018, they jointly established the production studio OCTOPICS and started with the production of their debut film "The Legend of Goldhorn" (2022). In its first year of distribution, the film was selected for more than 70 notable international film festivals, including the prestigious mountain film festivals such as Trento in Italy, Banff in Canada, and Kendal in the UK, as well as festivals like Cinanima, Zagreb Animafest, Tirana, Drama, and others. It received 11 awards, including the Vesna for Best Animated Film in 2022 and the DSAF Award for Best Artistic Design in 2022.

“The pilot episode for early primary school children follows Loka, a young stork. The birds mirror our personalities and lives, while also reflecting the health of the environment that we share. The series invites children to explore their surroundings, appreciate diversity, learn to cooperate, and develop a sense of responsibility towards nature.”

Octopics, founded in 2018 by Lea Vučko and Damir Grbanović is a production company specialized in animated film. Their work includes the award-winning short The Legend of Goldhorn, co-productions like Fachuk, and commissioned museum animations such as Vsemir, combining artistic storytelling with educational content.