Grammar of Motion
Here you will see my animation projects
“We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.” -- 《The Truman Show》
"There is no way off this ship." -- 《Triangle》
Region
Shanghai, China
Birthday
Feb, 2024
Technic
AE/Blender/Procreate/PR/AI/Sony6300
Concept
Prison is a three-part animated short that explores the invisible prison built by algorithms and information systems surrounding modern individuals. Set in a world constructed from endless layers of data, the story follows the protagonist’s gradual realization, futile escape, and eventual resignation to an endless cycle.
Approach
In prison, I focused on building a narrative through layered visual metaphors rather than direct storytelling. Everyday elements - staircases, forests, boats - are reshaped to suggest abstract ideas like control, illusion, and endless cycles. Instead of spelling everything out, I let symbols guide the audience's emotions: the infinite staircase hints at a trapped escape, while the crowded ships at the ocean's edge imply countless failed attempts to break free. By blending familiar visuals with subtle shifts, I aim to create a sense of unease and reflection, encouraging viewers to find their own meaning within the journey. This project prioritizes atmosphere over explanation, weaving metaphor into every scene to echo the invisible boundaries that quietly shape our lives.
Symbolism & Conceptual Framework
Chapter1 - Discover The animation opens on a violent television broadcast - blood-red and orange hues pulse to the sounds of battle and cries for help - demonstrating how media draws us in through spectacle (‘User & Gratifications & Agenda-Setting’). I then cut to a metro running through darkness, the only light source being from the passengers' phone screens. After darkness, the ridiculous taunt on posters "Stand Tall" and the warning of "Neck Strain" were exposed.
Chapter2 - Flee In the second chapter, the protagonist ascends a ∞-shaped staircase, a reference to ‘Run Lola Run’, symbolising an escape route that is itself part of the cage. This staircase morphs into a transition in a person's mouth - an image of "infotainment" addiction - while the person figures dance with controlled lines, representing people controlled by data.
Chapter3 - Return The protagonist runs to a forest with freedom under jubilant background music. But this happiness is short-lived: hidden cameras capture the process of gathering bird eggs and twist the scene into clickbait headlines. The high heels and polished shoes, as symbols of modern commerce, rushed into the forest. A sudden shift to a rocky (revealed as a chestnut's shadow) and a tree-top hideaway(a disguised umbrella) invokes the Allegory of the Cave of Plato, emphasizing our perceptions remain chained to illusion. Cycle Repeat Decided to flee again, the protagonist rows toward the horizon. "This time must be successful!" A wide shot of the scene of the blue sea gives way to a first-person view through diving glasses, where only the own breathing is heard by the audience, referencing 'Graduate'. But the boat stopped at an invisible boundary: the world's edge. And there are dozens of similar boats around, echoing the fate of many who tried before (inspired by ’The Truman Show‘ and ’Triangle‘). In the final twist, the sea is repackaged as a popular holiday space - another media spectacle. The camera zooms out and reveals a new viewer watching on the television, mirroring that the next cycle will begin again.
Uses and Gratifications Theory Agenda-Setting Theory Pleasure Trap / Infantilization of Entertainment Echo Chamber Effect Filter Bubble Plato's Allegory of the Cave Elephant in the Room Metaphor
Run Lola Run
The Truman Show
Triangle
The Graduate
Grammar of Motion
Grammar of Motion
Here you will see my animation projects
Here you will see my animation projects
Prison
“We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented.” -- 《The Truman Show》
"There is no way off this ship." -- 《Triangle》
Region
Shanghai, China
Birthday
May, 2022
Technic
AE/Blender/Procreate/PR/AI/Sony6300
Concept
Prison is a three-part animated short that explores the invisible prison built by algorithms and information systems surrounding modern individuals. Set in a world constructed from endless layers of data, the story follows the protagonist’s gradual realization, futile escape, and eventual resignation to an endless cycle.
Approach
In prison, I focused on building a narrative through layered visual metaphors rather than direct storytelling. Everyday elements - staircases, forests, boats - are reshaped to suggest abstract ideas like control, illusion, and endless cycles. Instead of spelling everything out, I let symbols guide the audience's emotions: the infinite staircase hints at a trapped escape, while the crowded ships at the ocean's edge imply countless failed attempts to break free. By blending familiar visuals with subtle shifts, I aim to create a sense of unease and reflection, encouraging viewers to find their own meaning within the journey. This project prioritizes atmosphere over explanation, weaving metaphor into every scene to echo the invisible boundaries that quietly shape our lives.
Symbolism & Conceptual Framework
Chapter1 - Discover The animation opens on a violent television broadcast - blood-red and orange hues pulse to the sounds of battle and cries for help - demonstrating how media draws us in through spectacle (‘User & Gratifications & Agenda-Setting’). I then cut to a metro running through darkness, the only light source being from the passengers' phone screens. After darkness, the ridiculous taunt on posters "Stand Tall" and the warning of "Neck Strain" were exposed.
Chapter2 - Flee In the second chapter, the protagonist ascends a ∞-shaped staircase, a reference to ‘Run Lola Run’, symbolising an escape route that is itself part of the cage. This staircase morphs into a transition in a person's mouth - an image of "infotainment" addiction - while the person figures dance with controlled lines, representing people controlled by data.
Chapter3 - Return The protagonist runs to a forest with freedom under jubilant background music. But this happiness is short-lived: hidden cameras capture the process of gathering bird eggs and twist the scene into clickbait headlines. The high heels and polished shoes, as symbols of modern commerce, rushed into the forest. A sudden shift to a rocky (revealed as a chestnut's shadow) and a tree-top hideaway(a disguised umbrella) invokes the Allegory of the Cave of Plato, emphasizing our perceptions remain chained to illusion. Cycle Repeat Decided to flee again, the protagonist rows toward the horizon. "This time must be successful!" A wide shot of the scene of the blue sea gives way to a first-person view through diving glasses, where only the own breathing is heard by the audience, referencing 'Graduate'. But the boat stopped at an invisible boundary: the world's edge. And there are dozens of similar boats around, echoing the fate of many who tried before (inspired by ’The Truman Show‘ and ’Triangle‘). In the final twist, the sea is repackaged as a popular holiday space - another media spectacle. The camera zooms out and reveals a new viewer watching on the television, mirroring that the next cycle will begin again.