In a world where fewer Holocaust survivors remain to share their firsthand accounts, animator Zoom Rockman has found a profoundly moving way to preserve these stories.
Through a painstakingly created animated film based on the life of Holocaust survivor Ivor Perl, Rockman ensures that future generations will not forget the horrors of the past.
Perl, who was only 12 years old when he arrived at Auschwitz in 1944, survived unimaginable atrocities, including narrowly escaping the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele and enduring a harrowing 500-mile death march.
Today, at 92, he hopes this film will carry his story into the future, educating audiences about the brutality of the Holocaust.
Bringing History to Life with Authentic Detail
Rockman’s animation stands apart because of its deep commitment to historical accuracy.
Using Ivor Perl’s memoir Chicken Soup Under the Tree as a foundation, Rockman complemented it with testimonies from Holocaust figures like Elie Wiesel and Primo Levi.
He even visited Auschwitz and other significant locations to ensure authenticity.
Every puppet in the film is modeled after real people, with some faces inspired by the haunting photographs of war photographer Lee Miller and sketches made by Auschwitz survivors.
Rockman’s dedication to accuracy extended to even the smallest details, from historical locations to the chilling realities of life inside the camps.
Art as a Bridge for Younger Generations
To make the Holocaust accessible and engaging for Gen Z and younger audiences, Rockman chose a unique medium: live-action animation using hand-drawn puppets.
The film’s black-and-white aesthetic, with hints of blue, carries symbolic weight.
The blue represents the Zyklon B gas stains left on walls, as well as the deceptively calm skies Perl remembered from his first day at Auschwitz—a reminder that the Holocaust unfolded in broad daylight, not hidden in the shadows.
The film also includes a poignant scene in which a puppet, modeled after Perl’s great uncle, gently lies to protect the young Ivor from the horror of the camp’s crematorium.
Such moments underscore the humanity that persisted even amidst unimaginable suffering.
A Message of Survival and Hope
After completing the project, Rockman shared the finished film with Ivor Perl.
Deeply moved, Perl wrote him a note that read, “Dear Zoom, now I know why I survived.”
For Rockman, those words encapsulated the importance of ensuring these stories endure.
Perl himself believes the film will resonate far beyond the Jewish community, offering a universal message about the dangers of hate and the resilience of the human spirit.
“Hopefully, what Zoom has done will help future generations realize that things that happen to one group might start there, but they don’t end there,” Perl shared.
A Labour of Love and Legacy
Zoom Rockman, who gained recognition as a young cartoonist for Beano and later Private Eye, poured his heart into this year-long project.
The haunting soundtrack, composed by Erran Baron Cohen, and a screenplay by Rockman’s mother, Kate Lennard, add further depth to this remarkable film.
Set to screen at London’s JW3 community center and on Australia’s ABC TV, Survivor aims to inspire conversations about the Holocaust and combat the rise of denialism.
As Rockman put it, “The truth is there. I didn’t see a need to make anything up.”
Preserving History for the Future
With time, the world will lose the last survivors of the Holocaust.
Through projects like Rockman’s animation, their voices and experiences can continue to educate and inspire.
As Perl reflected, “This film isn’t just for me or for Jews—it’s for humanity.
It’s a reminder of what hate can do, and a call to ensure it never happens again.”
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