Fleeing the An Lushan Rebellion, a scholar drowned his sorrows in wine, envying the freedom of fish. One day, a young girl appeared and turned him into a fish. He swam freely beneath the surface, but when a crane tried to devour him, he was saved by another fish that became a girl. Awakening, he sighed, unsure if it was dream or reality “Even fish have worries of their own.”
- Student
- Xiao Yuwei
- Field
- Animation
- Format
- 2D animation
- Running time
- 02:23
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9
- Exhibition
- 2025 Graduation Exhibition 「New Game+」
Synopsis
A scholar, seeking escape from a chaotic world, spends his days in drink. One night, he dreams of becoming a fish and finds brief serenity beneath the water, until a crane nearly devours him— only to be saved by a fish that turns into a girl. Upon waking, he finds himself standing at the blurred boundary between dream and reality, contemplating life and freedom anew.
Artist's intent
This work was inspired by Zhuangzi’s “If you are not a fish, how can you know the joy of fish?” and “Zhuang Zhou’s Butterfly Dream.” Through the story of a scholar who dreams of becoming a fish, it explores the relationship between dreams and reality, as well as freedom and burdens. Therefore, the work is expressed in the artistic style of traditional Chinese painting to convey a poetic and philosophical atmosphere.
Stills
