(New York, New York)
I have always found animation to be a magical medium because I am able to breathe life into the images. As a child, I was fascinated by Chinese lion dances, because I genuinely thought that these lions were real and that they can only show up during Chinese New Year Parades. Every year I waited impatiently for the new year to come so I could see the lion dances again.
At first, I wanted to make an animation that invoked the same wonderful emotions that I felt as a child. However, I lost my grandfather due to Covid-19 last year and it was difficult for me to continue working without crying. Yet as I pushed on, I realized that this animation was a great way for me to cope with my loss. My work expresses that things can get better with time and that we can overcome obstacles.