Industrial Motion Art Filmproduktion | The Visual Effects and Digital Art Studio of Reinhold A. Konrad – Fragner

A silhouette of a person in a coat and hat runs through heavy rain, holding a yellow umbrella. The scene is dramatic, with a teal-toned background.

Umbrella Day [en]

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by

imaraf
in

Between Protection and Storytelling: Why the Umbrella Is More Than Just a Prop


Let’s be honest: Did you know that today is National Umbrella Day? Yes, February 10th officially belongs to an object we usually only appreciate when we haven’t forgotten it. But while for most of us, the umbrella is just a functional (and constantly disappearing) accessory, it has enjoyed a stellar career in the world of cinema. It is far more than just a portable roof against a drizzle in Vienna—it is an emotional lightning rod, a visual anchor, and sometimes the actual lead actor, all without demanding a single cent in salary negotiations.
person in the_rain being swept away

The Magic of the Prop (or: Why We Love Umbrellas)
Why is the umbrella so omnipresent in film? Probably because it’s the Swiss Army knife of visual language. Does a director need to convey “isolation”? A lonely umbrella in the fog does the trick. “Romance”? Two heads under one—strategically too small—umbrella. It breaks up silhouettes, plays with light, and is arguably the most grateful splash of color in an otherwise grey, rainy world. And let’s face it: without his rhythmic symbiosis with that black fabric in Singin’ in the Rain, Gene Kelly would probably just have ended up with very wet feet and we would be missing one of the most iconic moments in movie history.
Overhead view of a crowded street filled with people holding umbrellas. Most umbrellas are dark, except for one light-colored umbrella, creating a muted, rainy atmosphere.

Here are my three favorite movies with umbrellas

  1. My Neighbor Totoro (1988) – A Moment of Wonder
    Who doesn’t love the iconic bus stop scene? Satsuki stands in the pouring rain and lends the giant forest spirit Totoro an umbrella. The rhythmic drumming of the drops on the fabric fascinates Totoro so much that he jumps into the air with joy. Miyazaki perfectly captures that “sense of wonder” that defines all his work. It’s a story about empathy, told through a simple object. Miyazaki constantly shows us how to make the fantastic feel tangible—a huge inspiration for us as digital art creators.
    A young girl stands under a red umbrella beside a large, friendly creature with a leaf on its head, in the rain near a bus stop, set against a forested backdrop.
  2. Lost in Translation (2003) – Melancholy in Clear View
    Scarlett Johansson conveys a completely different feeling in Sofia Coppola’s masterpiece. The image of her walking through the neon-lit, rainy streets of Tokyo with her transparent umbrella is one of timeless aesthetic. The clear umbrella acts like a membrane—it protects her while allowing her to observe the alien world around her. It underscores the cultural displacement and the delicate, minimalist bond between the characters Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and Charlotte.
    A person with shoulder-length blonde hair holds a clear umbrella in a bustling city street. The scene is rainy, with a soft, introspective mood.
  3. The Blue Umbrella (2013) – The Umbrella as Protagonist
    In this Pixar short, the umbrella finally evolves from an accessory to a true protagonist. In a photorealistically animated city, a blue umbrella falls in love with a red one. It was directed by Saschka Unseld, an incredibly charming colleague with whom I once had the pleasure of hitting the town – or rather, the bars – in Vienna. Fortunately, it wasn’t raining back then. Saschka created a heartbreaking “love declaration to the rain” here. Technically, the film was a milestone, as Pixar developed entirely new algorithms for photorealistic lighting and shading specifically for this project.
    Poster with a beige background shows nine black umbrellas, a blue umbrella, and a red umbrella. Right images depict blue and red umbrellas with faces in rain. The scene conveys whimsy and curiosity.


It is fascinating to see how everyday objects, through the lens of a camera, become central narrative elements or even living characters. This is what we love about filmmaking: transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Curiously, in my VFX career at Industrial Motion Art so far, I’ve realized countless rain scenes—from soft drizzles to massive floods—but I have actually never had to work on a classic umbrella scene. Maybe it’s time to change that!
Silhouetted figure balancing on a pedestal under a red umbrella, amidst rain. The scene is illuminated by an orange glow, creating a moody, dramatic tone.

Do you have a favorite scene involving an umbrella? Or are you currently planning a project where we should make it (digitally) rain? Let us know!

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