Once Upon a Rabbit Animated Short

Beyond recreating a nostalgic memory, we were also interested in exploring the cultural values embedded within these traditions. Festivals like the Lantern Festival are not only celebrations; they are moments of connection that carry ideas of togetherness, shared rituals, and intergenerational storytelling. As societies become increasingly fast-paced and digitally driven, many of these small cultural experiences risk becoming distant or abstract, especially for younger generations and for people living between cultures.

A major design goal was finding a balance between familiarity and surprise. We wanted the piece to feel dreamlike and emotionally warm, while introducing unexpected transitions and playful transformations that keep the experience visually engaging. Rather than relying on direct narration, we aimed to let movement, pacing, and visual rhythm guide the emotional journey.

The concept developed over several weeks through conversations, sketching, visual experiments, and motion studies. Rather than arriving at a fixed idea immediately, the project evolved gradually through a process of exploration and iteration.

Because the piece was built around emotional qualities rather than a strict narrative, much of the process involved testing different visual languages and motion behaviors. We explored how color, texture, abstraction of shapes, and spatial movement could influence the feeling of the work before shaping them into a cohesive experience.

The decision to blend 3D construction with a hand-drawn aesthetic came from the emotions we wanted to capture. Once Upon a Rabbit is inspired by the Lantern Festival, a tradition often remembered through feelings of warmth, wonder, and nostalgia. We found that a purely 3D approach felt too literal, while a fully illustrated style lacked the depth and atmosphere we envisioned. Combining the two allowed us to create a world that felt both immersive and approachable.That decision shaped every stage of the project. We used 3D to build environments, lighting, and camera movement, while hand-drawn textures and graphic treatments added softness and personality. Rather than aiming for realism, we focused on creating an emotional experience that felt like a memory brought to life.Looking back, the hybrid visual language became the foundation of the film, helping us communicate the warmth and spirit of the story while making it accessible to audiences from different cultural backgrounds.

From the beginning, our goal was not to explain the Lantern Festival, but to capture the feelings associated with it. While the film is rooted in a specific cultural tradition, the emotions behind it—wonder, togetherness, curiosity, and celebration—are universal experiences that transcend cultural boundaries.We focused on visual storytelling rather than explicit narrative. Elements such as rabbit lanterns, glutinous rice balls, calligraphy, and festive gatherings provide cultural context, but the film does not require prior knowledge of the festival to be understood. Instead, we used atmosphere, color, movement, and pacing to evoke a sense of warmth and joy that audiences can connect with on an emotional level.By emphasizing shared human experiences rather than cultural explanations, we hoped to create a film that feels authentic to its origins while remaining accessible to viewers around the world. In that sense, the Lantern Festival became both a cultural reference and a universal symbol of connection, hope, and celebration.

One of the key lessons from Once Upon a Rabbit is that technology works best when it serves a purpose rather than becoming the focus itself. Our hybrid workflow combined the flexibility of 3D production with the warmth and expressiveness of illustrative compositing, allowing us to create imagery that felt both structured and personal.For designers working with culturally inspired stories, I believe the methodology demonstrates how digital tools can efficiently help us develop the right visual experiences. Rather than striving for perfect realism, we used technology to support atmosphere, mood, and feeling. The 3D foundation provided depth and consistency, while textures, graphic treatments, and subtle imperfections helped preserve a sense of humanity and craft.As creative tools continue to evolve, the opportunity is not simply to create more detailed imagery, but to create more meaningful experiences. Technology can be a powerful bridge between cultural heritage and contemporary storytelling when it is guided by emotion, intention, and a clear creative vision.