The Blackburns

The Challenge

Historica Canada wanted to bring a critical piece of Black Canadian history to a broad audience: the story of Thornton and Lucie Blackburn. The challenge was making something that honoured the gravity of the subject and still worked for viewers of all ages.

The Approach

We worked closely with Historica Canada on the history. Animation was a deliberate choice. There's no photographic record of the Blackburns' escape, and animation let us build a visual language that could carry the weight of the story without sensationalizing it.

The production moved through script development and storyboard approvals that kept the history clear.

The Work

Thornton and Lucie Blackburn escaped slavery in Kentucky in 1831 and reached Upper Canada. Their extradition case set a precedent: Upper Canada would not return freedom seekers. They went on to run the first cab company in the province.

The film tells that story through its characters.

Why it matters to us

The Blackburns' story is about two people who refused to be sent back. Getting it right meant telling it plainly and with care, and making sure the film could carry that weight without turning their pain into spectacle.