Synopsis

The background of the stop-motion animation short film Innermost is set in the future featured by highly advanced technologies but collapsed society and civilization system. The cyberpunk-style science fiction world coexists fantastically with the traditional oriental martial arts world. The story follows the emotional entanglement between a long-lost chivalrous couple and a person with regenerated organs starting from a fight for a mystic magic lyre. From the perspective of what regeneration technologies are able of, the short film will arouse the audience to think of how the value of emotions can be magnified or dissolved.

Curator’s Note

China chic, cyberpunk, stop-motion animation, Innermost creates an evocative world in just 10 minutes with its impeccable production quality. Dazzling neon colours, Hu Jia with strings, plum blossoms and bronze doors, drum beats and the sound of cold weapons, the unique audio-visual experience quickly immerses the audience into it, which is a story of strife, survival, and more importantly, love. (Lve Zi)

Director’s bio

Caochong Maing had been a lover of cartoon and animation from school days to work. When he made up his mind to try animation as his next career direction, he found he had missed the chance to study animation systematically in professional colleges and universities as he was no longer young. With no ability of creating 2D or 3D animation, Caochong thought maybe he could make some stop-motion animations. Now, at his own professional stop-motion animation studio, he is producing stop-motion animations for a great number of clients including Disney as director and animator. At the same time, he has never forgotten the original aspiration of his foray into the animation world - presenting those original stories in his heart with his own hands.

Director’s Note

When life can be reconstructed easily, will love be exclusive any longer?

Festival & Awards

Casts

Credits

Written & Directed : Maing Caochong

Production Manager: Echo Ni

Production Designer: Stan Liu

Director of Photography: Quill Yang

Animator: Matt Liu

Art Director: Sue Sun

VOICES: YaLong Cao HongRu Zeng Lance Zhang YuZe Han