There is beauty in the broken, but Yuki, a deer plagued by anxiety, isn’t able to see it. After being misled by his friend, and closest companion, Michi in an effort to “toughen him up,” Yuki is forced to delve into an abandoned building where, unbeknownst to either of them, a malevolent presence--consuming both Yuki’s fear and suspicion--lurks, ready to emerge.
A horror centric film festival based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. My film, YUKI, was accepted into the festival where it premiered opening night at the Atlas Theater in downtown Cheyenne. Alongside many other independently produced horror films, YUKI was the first animated short film submission to be shown at the festival's 6th annual screening.
An animation/film hybrid filmed on location in Aokigahara forest, Japan. Yuki, a deer plagued by anxiety, is forced to overcome his fear after delving into an abandoned bathhouse with his friend Michi, or be consumed by it.
Inspired by Haikyo, or "ruins" in Japanese, refers more specifically to urban exploration in Japanese culture. People seek out abandoned structures to witness the natural beauty of decay. This is due in part to a different set of aesthetics than those in the west, whereas in Japan, the imperfect and broken are considered the most valuable and beautiful. They have a history something new does not possess, and therefore a story associated with them that gives them value.
This story similarly deals with this eastern aesthetic (known as Wabi Sabi in Japan), as well as powerful emotions like anxiety and fear. If left out of balance, these emotions can consume us, yet, they are also a part of our character; a part of who we are individually.
Remember: there is beauty in the broken.
Check out the demo reel below:
A rough cut of the basic audio, visual, and sound components for my upcoming thesis.