On the third day of the week-long Kuandu International Animation Festival, the competition student screening began on 10/24. This session brought together exciting works from students around the globe, each with distinctive styles and a wide range of themes and visuals. In addition to the common 3D, 2D animation, and stop-motion animation, this screening also showcased variant creations using mixed media, making it diverse and rich in variety.

A total of 50 student works were selected for the competition. The screening is divided into three sessions: I, II, and III. Works featured in session I were mainly by students from Taipei National University of the Arts, whereas sessions II and III showcased works by students overseas. This text will briefly introduce these works.

Student Short Films I

"I Can Play by Myself" 

Portraying the differences and similarities in the characters' personalities with a playful line style, this animation presented two individuals from different backgrounds who share a common loneliness. Through the interaction and dialogue of them, the animation highlights the challenges families are facing nowadays.

"Lost in a Waltz" 

Through one vinyl record, this work depicts the changing roles of a woman in society and her choices in life after getting married. As the waltz music concludes, a mother's youthful days also come to an end.

"Mortal Flame" 

This animation illustrates the unique relationship between the two girls, the challenges and pressures they face, and how they survive in such an environment.

"His Dog Sleeps by the Sea and Rides the Wave" 

With a unique hand-drawn style, this work combines video creations to explore the relationship between animals and humans.  The gravity of the theme and the tragic ending is brought out by the grayscale imagery.

"Set Sail" 

With dazzling colors and warm lighting, this animation conveys the nostalgia for elders and portrays the challenges that Taiwan's early industrial changes had brought, and the sacrifices and dedication of men for their families in incessantly changing scenes.

"Goodbye" 

A heartwarming stop-motion animation with a distinct character image. Using materials such as wool felt and fabric to create traditional Taiwanese house scenes and character features. This animation conveys love and care among family members.

"Bad Kids" 

The work, featuring a unique hand-drawn style and primarily using plasterboard, portrays the frustrations and experiences faced by the creator while being in the position of a teacher. It uses crayon strokes to depict the innocence of children and their pure violence.

"Bohem 9" 

Initiated by a cigarette, the story unfolds during summer times. Featuring a unique drawing style, with only simple lines, harmonious colors and music. The animation weaves the summer memories belonging to the protagonist and a girl.

"McGuffin" 

This work, combining 3D animation and imagery, draws the concept of "McGuffin" from films. It incorporates light melodies and fast-changing scenes to depict seemingly insignificant events from childhood that shape one's character.

"Ticket Please" 

A technically proficient and smooth 3D animation. It depicts the story of a young boy and a man competing for a ticket, which then leads both of them into a dilemma. The fluent cinematography immerses the audience in the story.

"Catching" 

It incorporates 2D animation with video and primarily uses clean lines. The act of catching different objects is highlighted repeatedly to carry out the message that "missing is about lost"

ultimately.

"廿二 Twenty Two" 

This work combines hand-drawn, paper-cut, and video elements.   It expresses the creator's anxiety and confusion about life at 20 and the gradual self-discovery during the exploration with a direct narrative voiceover.  

Student Short Films II

"CATCH ME BABY" 

A colorful, vibrant, and harmonious 3D animation with vivid characters. The story primarily focuses on combat, highlighting the conflicts in dialogues and the importance of communication.

"FEUX" 

This work primarily employs a hand-drawn style and features a dog as the protagonist. It depicts the ravages of war and how a dog survives in such a chaotic environment. The brutality of war is emphasized with a grayscale tone.

"Martyr"

 The story revolves around the loneliness and sadness arising from the birth of a new life in a family. The animation combines large black and white blocks, geometric cuts, and dynamic lines, giving it a sleek and clean style.

"LIFE IS A MARATHON" 

Depicting the numerous ups and downs among the life journey of aging horses, the animation tells a story about rediscovering themselves in life.

"The Last Bar" 

A finely made stop-motion animation featuring dedicated character and scene designs. When the protagonist is about to commit suicide, they stumble upon the "Last Bar" and encounter various characters. Through the arguments and conversations between these characters, the protagonist lets go of suicidal thoughts.

"NO TIME FOR LOVE"

Merging stop-motion animation and 2D animation, this work employs a hand-drawn doodle style to depict the inner emotions of a young girl. The distressed girl is forced to confront her inner fears because of an unexpected confession.

"Sister" 

This animation portrays the emotional bonds and relationships between sisters. Two sisters on an adventure in the clouds go through arguments, challenges, and sacrifices while trying to find a tree. This journey brings them closer to both their destination and themselves.

"Cage" 

Vibrant colors, clean lines, and frequent interjections of graffiti-like brushstrokes characterize this work. With changing shapes and dramatic usage of colors, the animation vividly depicts a person's life being confined within various cubic objects, from childhood toys to office desks, houses, and graves.

"To the Brink" 

This stop-motion animation is presented in the form of a musical. The characters each have their own unique styles, and the story, with its absurd performance, explores how issues like guilt and alcoholism can push a young person over the edge.

"Broken" 

Combining stop-motion animation with video, this work presents characters’ mental status through frame-by-frame recording of live dance performances. It portrays how the psychological problems of two sisters affect not only themselves but also each other.

"Operago" 

This animation revolves around the opera "Carmen" and combines it with a modern rock style. The costumes, style, and scenes are distinctive, creating a unique and complete world with characters who have strong personalities.

"Before Dawn" 

This animation tells the story of two Mustela sibirica with richly changing scenes. They separate and reunite, and when the sound of a bell and an alarm rings, dawn arrives.

"Laika & Nemo" 

A smooth 3D animation featuring a character named Nemo who wears a massive diving helmet. He endures mockery from others. One night, he encounters a spaceman called Laika. They seem to share certain similarities.

Student Short Films III

"Tempo" 

The rhythm and camera work are incorporated smoothly. In the performance of the four distinct characters,  accompanied by a gradually accelerating tune, a musical war is about to begin.

"Yde & Olive" 

The story depicts the assassin Yde, who, upon learning that Princess Olive is to be married, is forced to break up with her. When the prince arrives, the two women must choose between their love and identity. The plot flows smoothly, the emotional expressions of the characters are vivid, and the setting overall is well-constructed.

"Small Hours" 

Through continuously segmented frames, we glimpse into the memories between the characters, transitioning from one to another. The overall rhythm is smooth. Audiences gradually gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between the characters with the simultaneously dividing frames.

"Apocalypse Dog" 

A 3D animation combines 2D elements. Unique character designs and color combinations make for an intriguing story. The plot describes a dog who disagrees with its owner, leading to a separation on an island, and an incident in the forest that eventually brings the two back together.

"Galibot" 

The 3D scenes are smooth and realistic, portraying a young boy who must work in a mine with his father due to his social status, subjecting him to endure the harsh realities of this labor.

"SNAX" A 3D animation story with three lizards as the main characters. Seemingly cute lizards turn out to be fierce and greedy. Through constantly changing perspectives, the audience can experience the characters' situations and viewpoints.

"Boom" 

A 3D animation suitable for viewers of all ages, which features realistic and smoothly animated scenes in a childlike style . The story is about a bird couple who protect their eggs from volcanic attacks in a foolish manner.

"MARONII"

 A realistic 3D animation works with detailed character development and smooth camera transitions. It immerses the audience in the adventure alongside a small fish.

"Dodo"

 It uses a strong hand-drawn style in black and white with the occasional use of color in special scenes or on characters, highlighting the unique significance of different characters and scenes within the story.

"The Eastern rain" 

This experimental animation has a primarily hand-drawn style with an oil painting texture. The scenes transition smoothly with rich color changes, depicting a story about finding refuge.

"Fish in the Bus" 

A girl on a bus ends up in an inexperienced environment after an abrupt stop but eventually returns to her father's embrace. The story portrays the fear of leaving familiar surroundings from a child's perspective.

"So Long, Caz!" 

"So Long, Caz!" is a story about letting go. The plot describes a girl feeling unsettled about leaving school life and her friends, attempting to reverse time to return to her school days. The unique background setting immerses the audience in the story.

"Diving"

"Diving" Using the deep sea as a metaphor for fear, the camera work is smooth with rich use of color. It describes how diving into the deep sea after overcoming fear reveals a more vibrant world.

"The Sun is Bad" 

A story about a peculiar girl trying various methods to prevent the sun from melting her. This work makes the visuals abounding and fun through exaggerated performances, and combines 3D elements to create various scenes.

"Katabasis"

 With unique scenes and character styles, the animation focuses on a protagonist who refuses to acknowledge his grandmother's death, telling a story about how to face death in life.

"A Tale on Giants and Other Animals" 

The visuals primarily feature a pencil-drawn style, depicting a little person who can't fit into the world of giants, leading them to search for a place they can call home in this world.

"Beanboy" 

It has cute and playful characters and overall style. It narrates a story about fear affecting one's ability to have fun with friends or lose friends.

"In Boxes" 

A 2D animation combines  video, and frame-by-frame animation that integrates various media. Taking a paper sea as a symbol, it portrays a woman who isn't ready to share her secrets with her partner.

"Go Fishboy" 

Centered around fish, it portrays the relationship between father and son, and the struggle for self-identity. A highly respected sushi master is attempting to communicate with knowledge passed down by the family with his son. Yet, his son exhibits strange behavior.

"Last Summer" 

It depicts friends wanting to create their last memories before one of them goes to study in a different place. A cheerful tune runs throughout the work and incorporates rich changes in lighting to express the feeling of summer.

"Gambit" 

With a pixelated overall style with folk totem and rich colors,  this work portrays the brutality and chaos of war in a game-like performance.

"Legacy" 

The story revolves around a woman's memories of her grandmother. The artwork primarily features simple lines and warm yellow hues, conveying the message that "youth doesn't disappear; it only migrates.

"From Beyond the Stage" 

The overall visuals is malerisch, with rich and ever-changing colors. The scenes transit smoothly and vividly. The story tells of a traveler sharing his journey, using the constantly changing scenes to recount his experiences and inspire others.

"LAST CHRISTMAS"

"LAST CHRISTMAS" A unique 3D animation with a warm impression of Christmas contrasting with an uncanny atmosphere narrates the story of a girl's experiences on Christmas Eve.