An Elephant Sitting Still · Title Sequence
Scientists can’t explain how elephants sense disasters before they strike. Maybe they feel the weight of impending tragedy.
By ways of cruel fate, four protagonists – four parallel lines – become entangled to escape their glum realities to reach utopia – where there is an Elephant Sitting Still. The film portrays endless possibilities as four worlds collide while simultaneously prescribing all those possibilities as futile struggles.
Project Role Art Direction · Illustration · Graphic Design · Compositing
Programs Photoshop · Cinema 4D · RedShift · Clip Studio · InDesign
Collaborator Eunseo Ryu
Frames
Story
The sequence adheres to the tone of subtle sadness permeating through the film, in which its characters attempt to resist a predetermined fate through hoping to reach the utopia. Each porcelain piece represents a character, mended by Kintsugi — symbolizing the absurdist struggle against meaningless fate. Fragile yet enduring, they mirror the characters’ trauma and the façade of hope, as ultimately the porcelain pieces remain in palpable darkness gazing into the light – neither here nor there. The sounds of the windchime calling out to its lost travelers.
Process
Porcelain Pattern
The porcelain designs are inspired by traditional Chinese patterns, each symbolizing cultural fables. Bamboo represents resilience like Wei Bu, the peach tree signifies wisdom and care like Wang Jin, the lotus flower embodies innocence and purity like Huang Ling, and the lion reflects boldness and fearlessness like Yu Cheng. Each type of porcelain also features a unique pattern system with inner and outer designs.
Programs
The Kintsugi effect is digitally applied in Photoshop to create a glistening look. The porcelain patterns are illustrated using watercolor and ink brushes in Photoshop and Clip Studio. The objects and lighting are arranged in Cinema 4D, with minor lighting adjustments made in Photoshop.
Visual Direction
The title uses the Chengyuluoyan typeface, a Chinese font that mimics handwriting, paired with Azo Sans to contrast with its more fluid, handwritten style. The lighting of the scene correlates to the setting of the movie. The environment is dusty and forgotten, yet light still breaks through, offering hope to those who are lost.
