The film collection
Through their eyes,
everything is a beginning.
A boat in a puddle. A blanket over two chairs. A shell small enough to fit in a pocket. Little films about the worlds children find in ordinary things.
These imaginary worlds were made for the campaign. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books. Try a complete story →
Once Upon Us films
Until bedtime
A box. A blanket. A puddle. An ordinary day with somewhere else to go.
A little paper boat floats from a puddle into a whole ocean.
An imaginative campaign film. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books.
Film description & transcript
A little paper boat floats from a puddle into a whole ocean. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
A cardboard box becomes a rocket in a folded-paper cosmos.
An imaginative campaign film. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books.
Film description & transcript
A cardboard box becomes a rocket in a folded-paper cosmos. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
A blanket fort opens into a lantern-lit forest.
An imaginative campaign film. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books.
Film description & transcript
A blanket fort opens into a lantern-lit forest. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
A sandcastle unfolds into an illuminated paper kingdom.
An imaginative campaign film. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books.
Film description & transcript
A sandcastle unfolds into an illuminated paper kingdom. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
A box, a blanket fort, and a sandcastle become three imaginary worlds.
An imaginative campaign film. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books.
Film description & transcript
A box, a blanket fort, and a sandcastle become three imaginary worlds. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
Once Upon Us films
The little things
The stories hiding in a leaf and a line on paper.
An autumn leaf becomes a little fox in a paper forest.
An imaginative campaign film. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books.
Film description & transcript
An autumn leaf becomes a little fox in a paper forest. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
A crayon dinosaur becomes a pop-up garden adventure.
An imaginative campaign film. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books.
Film description & transcript
A crayon dinosaur becomes a pop-up garden adventure. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
A leaf, a drawing, and a blanket fort open into imaginary worlds.
An imaginative campaign film. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books.
Film description & transcript
A leaf, a drawing, and a blanket fort open into imaginary worlds. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
Once Upon Us films
Through their eyes
A shell, an umbrella and toy blocks, seen a little differently.
A tiny shell opens into a paper reef with an orange turtle.
An imaginative campaign film. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books.
Film description & transcript
A tiny shell opens into a paper reef with an orange turtle. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
A folded umbrella becomes a golden balloon above a paper town.
An imaginative campaign film. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books.
Film description & transcript
A folded umbrella becomes a golden balloon above a paper town. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
Toy blocks become a train crossing a bridge through folded mountains.
An imaginative campaign film. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books.
Film description & transcript
Toy blocks become a train crossing a bridge through folded mountains. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
A shell, an umbrella, and toy blocks become three unexpected adventures.
An imaginative campaign film. Once Upon Us makes illustrated, narrated picture books.
Film description & transcript
A shell, an umbrella, and toy blocks become three unexpected adventures. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
Once Upon Us films
See a story take shape
Edited introductions using actual sample artwork and narration. Invited families can start with words and optional photos.
A written beach-day moment leads to actual sample artwork and a narrated page.
Edited introduction. Actual sample artwork; fictional family. New books take a few minutes to make.
Film description & transcript
A written beach-day moment leads to actual sample artwork and a narrated page. Narration: “Scoop, scoop! Pat, pat! Pip and Wren built a sandcastle by the sea. One tower. Two towers. Three!”
A puddle becomes an ocean, then a sentence about the day becomes a narrated picture-book example.
Edited introduction. Actual sample artwork; fictional family. New books take a few minutes to make.
Film description & transcript
A puddle becomes an ocean, then a sentence about the day becomes a narrated picture-book example. Narration: “Scoop, scoop! Pat, pat! Pip and Wren built a sandcastle by the sea. One tower. Two towers. Three!”
A few glimpses of imaginary worlds, followed by an invitation to Once Upon Us.
Edited introduction. Actual sample artwork; fictional family. New books take a few minutes to make.
Film description & transcript
A few glimpses of imaginary worlds, followed by an invitation to Once Upon Us. Instrumental music; no spoken narration.
Hear a complete narrated sample page, then see the current text-first starting point.
Edited introduction. Actual sample artwork; fictional family. New books take a few minutes to make.
Film description & transcript
Hear a complete narrated sample page, then see the current text-first starting point. Narration: “Scoop, scoop! Pat, pat! Pip and Wren built a sandcastle by the sea. One tower. Two towers. Three!”
Photo demonstrations
From photo to story
Edited demonstrations using fictional families. Photos are available to invited families; making a book takes a few minutes.
A fictional family photo becomes an illustrated page in this photo-input concept.
Edited photo demonstration. Photos are available to invited families. Fictional family; making a book takes a few minutes.
Film description & transcript
A fictional family photo becomes an illustrated page in this photo-input concept. Narration: “Scoop, scoop! Pat, pat! Pip and Wren built a sandcastle by the sea. One tower. Two towers. Three!”
A blanket-fort world introduces a fictional photo-to-story concept and narrated sample.
Edited photo demonstration. Photos are available to invited families. Fictional family; making a book takes a few minutes.
Film description & transcript
A blanket-fort world introduces a fictional photo-to-story concept and narrated sample. Narration: “Scoop, scoop! Pat, pat! Pip and Wren built a sandcastle by the sea. One tower. Two towers. Three!”
A fictional beach photo transforms into a picture-book page, followed by its narration.
Edited photo demonstration. Photos are available to invited families. Fictional family; making a book takes a few minutes.
Film description & transcript
A fictional beach photo transforms into a picture-book page, followed by its narration. Narration: “Scoop, scoop! Pat, pat! Pip and Wren built a sandcastle by the sea. One tower. Two towers. Three!”
Start a story of your own.
Choose a little thing, imagine where it could go, and find a gentle way home.
Explore nine story starters →Your family's next chapter
Now imagine a book starring your kids.
Describe a little moment or make up an adventure. Once Upon Us turns it into an illustrated, narrated picture book. Join free early access and we'll email you when your invitation is ready.
Optional face and day photos. Making a book takes a few minutes. No payment card. Current access and allowances
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