Smile Without a Cat — How We Co-Created the World's First Holographic Opera for Children
There are projects that go far beyond what one usually calls film production. Smile Without a Cat is one of them. A holographic opera for children based on "Through the Looking-Glass" and themes from Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" — it is one of the most unconventional and artistically daring undertakings in which Sema Studio has had the pleasure of participating.
The project merged contemporary classical music, advanced hologram technology, and video art into a single spectacle for the youngest viewers. The world premiere took place in September 2023 as part of two prestigious festivals simultaneously: the 13th Festival of Contemporary Music for Children "Little Warsaw Autumn" and the 66th International Festival of Contemporary Music "Warsaw Autumn." The opera was presented from September 16th to 24th at the Guliwer Puppet Theater in Warsaw.
💡 Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
About the Project — Wonderland in Hologram
Smile Without a Cat is an experiment proposed to children by contemporary composer and vocalist Agata Zubel. The spectacle is an invitation to the Land on the Other Side of the Mirror — the Upside Down Land, the Land of Wonder — where the impossible becomes possible.
Hologram technology on a fog display literally pulls viewers inside the action. Holographic shapes and colors fill the theater space, penetrating the boundary between the stage and the audience. Children do not observe the spectacle — they enter it.
The opera tells of Alice, who leads viewers through a world full of surprises: an Invisible Cat whose only remnant is its smile. Magic Flowers and Humpty Dumpty. Two Queens trying to circle an un-circleable tree and count what cannot be counted. Numbers jumping around. Music alternating between gentle and dynamic, full of strange sounds, rhythms, and timbres — because contemporary music is a land where wonder, experiment, and play reign supreme.
The Role of Sema Studio — Camera, Editing, Video Art, and Visual Effects
Sebastian Kierzek was responsible for the complete visual layer of the spectacle: camera, video editing, visual effects, video art, and the realization and direction of the entire film.
This task extends significantly beyond standard film production. Video material in a holographic opera must be designed specifically for the fog display projection technology — considering depth, transparency, and the way the hologram interacts with light and the theater space. Every visual effect, every transition, and every animation had to harmonize simultaneously with Agata Zubel's music, the movement of the actors managing animations, and the perception of the child viewer.
Recordings for the project were realized at SWR Experimentalstudio in Freiburg — one of the most prestigious experimental music studios in Europe, operating since 1971 and specializing in merging electronics with contemporary music.
Project Crew
- Agata Zubel — concept, libretto, music, audio editing and mastering, film direction, execution of all vocal parts
- Sebastian Kierzek (Sema Studio) — camera, video editing, visual effects, video art, film realization and direction
- Aleksandra Wasilkowska — stage design
- Izabella Kurażyńska & Tomasz Kowol — actors managing animations
- Anna Kierkosz — concept for educational activities
- Technological support: Leia Display
Commission and Context — Warsaw Autumn and Guliwer Puppet Theater
The opera Smile Without a Cat was created as a commission of the Guliwer Puppet Theater and the Warsaw Autumn Festival — two institutions that have for years set artistic directions in Poland. The project was realized in collaboration with Sema Studio and SWR Experimental Studio in Freiburg.
The event was co-financed under the Culture Institutions Fund of the Capital City of Warsaw and from the funds of the Minister of Culture, National Heritage, and Sport, derived from the Culture Promotion Fund. The spectacle was presented as part of the Young Contemporary educational cycle as an event for children aged 7 and up.
Case Study:
Cultural Industry: Intriguing a child audience in the demanding world of classical music is narratively and technically highly complex.
Utilizing an experimental, innovative fog display (Leia Display) to present abstract colors, characters, and music.
Creating an immersive operatic video-spectacle that broke the invisible, sterile wall between the youngest audience and the magic of theater.
What Does This Project Say About Sema Studio's Capabilities?
Smile Without a Cat is proof that Sema Studio does not limit itself to a single genre or technology. From corporate films for Huawei and Faurecia, through documentaries for the BBC and Discovery Channel, to a holographic opera at a prestigious contemporary music festival — every time our role is the same: to tell a story through imagery at the highest possible technical and artistic level.
Video art, visual effects, and hologram technology are areas that increasingly enter the world of corporate communication — events, installations, product presentations, and immersive brand experiences. The experience gained in artistic productions like Smile Without a Cat translates directly into the quality and originality of what we can offer business clients looking for something more than standard film production.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does the fog display interact with the viewer and technology?
A fog display processes microscopic droplets of pure water into an incredibly consistent screen stream. In this way, a dry, transparent mass is created upon which the projector's image is seated!
Do you create video for Leia Display and other non-standard screens?
Yes. Effective immersive video depends on the designer. We must ensure perfect contrast control, background blacking, perspective on objects casting virtual shadows, and framerate synchronization.
Where do you apply this commercially?
Our technologies have application in launching new revolutionary products to the market, R&D showcases for shareholders, or CEO event zones.
Want to learn how video art and immersive technologies can enrich your brand's communication? Contact us. 📞 Sebastian: +48 663 393 700 | ✉️ info@semastudio.pl