On November 1, www.DarkHorse.com will launch a new storytelling project, combining unique elements of film, comic books, music, and computer animation to tell a tale of tragedy, sacrifice, and redemption. Silence is animator Jeff Russell Allman's lush and dramatic foray into an eerie, fairy-tale world where a young girl is killed because of her extraordinary power to dream. Upon witnessing her death, a distraught elemental seeks revenge for the girl's death, and sets after the dream-eating dragons who killed her.

Allman's visionary animation style showcases eclectic characters and eerie landscapes brought together to weave a haunting metaphor for "expressing the dreams, fears, and violence that exist in today's modern culture." Music is a fundamental element of the atmosphere of Silence, and Allman was pleased to coordinate a soundtrack for the project with the award-winning percussion group Portland Taiko.

Allman's editor on Silence, Dark Horse veteran Scott Allie, said the animation is fluid and expressive, and is unlike most computer animation being done for the internet today. "I haven't seen anything on the web which uses the technology in such an interesting way to tell a story. It's not like one of those comics with limited animation. Silence is a whole new storytelling form unto itself."

The addition of innovative web animation projects such as Silence to Dark Horse Comics' successful line of comic-book properties and entertainment ventures is a natural step for the publisher, which, in recent years, has added a full line of comic and pop-culture-related merchandise as well as a highly successful series of animated comic strips to its monthly repertoire.

"With Silence I hope to push the medium of web animation to it's limits both artistically and technically," added Allman. "Good stories and art can be made on the web, it just takes thought and effort to go beyond the novelty of new technology and make it relevant for today's audience. Soon web animation and multimedia will hit the public consciousness and I plan on being on the cutting-edge working with top creators such as Scott Allie and Dark Horse president and publisher Mike Richardson to invent new forms of storytelling and entertainment."

To experience Silence, visit the Dark Horse website at www.DarkHorse.com starting November 1 and click on the Silence icon.