Taichung National Theater 10th Anniversary Film
To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Taichung National Theater,
we created a short film that combines CG character animation with live-action footage,
introducing a small, hidden character living inside the architecture itself.
we created a short film that combines CG character animation with live-action footage,
introducing a small, hidden character living inside the architecture itself.
Rather than a simple animation piece,
the film explores the idea that architecture can carry life, emotion, and memory.
the film explores the idea that architecture can carry life, emotion, and memory.
Character Design Concept
The dog character is inspired by the organic curves and cave-like geometry of Taichung National Theater’s iconic exterior.
We translated the building’s flowing surfaces, rounded volumes, and rhythmic openings
into a simplified, friendly silhouette—
creating a character that remains faithful to the spirit of the architecture,
while making it more approachable and emotionally engaging.
into a simplified, friendly silhouette—
creating a character that remains faithful to the spirit of the architecture,
while making it more approachable and emotionally engaging.
To soften the rational and monumental nature of the building,
we chose a fluffy, airy, and tactile material for the character’s surface,
adding warmth and personality to the form.
we chose a fluffy, airy, and tactile material for the character’s surface,
adding warmth and personality to the form.
The result is a character that feels like
a small living soul quietly residing within the theater—
a gentle guardian of the building’s memories and stories.
a small living soul quietly residing within the theater—
a gentle guardian of the building’s memories and stories.
It is not a mascot,
but an imagined spirit born from ten years of the theater’s presence in the city.
but an imagined spirit born from ten years of the theater’s presence in the city.
Story
On a bright, cloudless day,
Taichung National Theater stands quietly in the heart of the city,
like a giant white hill that holds its own secrets.
Taichung National Theater stands quietly in the heart of the city,
like a giant white hill that holds its own secrets.
No one knows that
deep within its flowing walls,
a little dog lives there.
deep within its flowing walls,
a little dog lives there.
One afternoon,
a small head gently peeked out from a narrow opening in the wall.
Sunlight brushed across its ears.
It blinked.
a small head gently peeked out from a narrow opening in the wall.
Sunlight brushed across its ears.
It blinked.
A group of children passing by noticed it.
“There’s a dog!”
Their excited voices made the little dog shy.
Their excited voices made the little dog shy.
Startled, it quickly turned around
and slipped into a tiny hole at the corner of the theater,
leaving only its softly wagging tail behind.
and slipped into a tiny hole at the corner of the theater,
leaving only its softly wagging tail behind.
Just when everyone thought it had disappeared—
the dog suddenly appeared again,
this time running out from the upper level of the theater.
the dog suddenly appeared again,
this time running out from the upper level of the theater.
Standing above the crowd,
it wagged its tail happily,
as if to say:
it wagged its tail happily,
as if to say:
“I’ve been here all along.”
Compositing
CREDIT
CG TEAM｜AGE CREATIVE LTD.
CG SUPERVISOR｜PARKER SHEN
PROJECT MANAGER｜COCO LIN / XUE0
ART DIRECTOR｜PARKER SHEN
3D ARTIST｜BONNIE LU / PARKER SHEN
CHARACTER MODELING｜BONNIE LU
COMPOSITING｜PARKER SHEN
CLEAN UP／PREP／TRACKING｜GENKI_WU / KF CHO
CG SUPERVISOR｜PARKER SHEN
PROJECT MANAGER｜COCO LIN / XUE0
ART DIRECTOR｜PARKER SHEN
3D ARTIST｜BONNIE LU / PARKER SHEN
CHARACTER MODELING｜BONNIE LU
COMPOSITING｜PARKER SHEN
CLEAN UP／PREP／TRACKING｜GENKI_WU / KF CHO
PRODUCTION COMPANY｜BACKYARD STUDIO
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER｜SICA WU
DIRECTOR｜JASON SUEN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER｜SICA WU
DIRECTOR｜JASON SUEN
PRODUCER｜OGISON PENG
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT｜CHENG HAO WU／WENDELL
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT｜CHENG HAO WU／WENDELL
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY｜YEAH WENG
DRONE OPERATOR｜SPICY PORK
DRONE OPERATOR｜SPICY PORK
HAIR AND MAKEUP ARTIST｜LAUREN
EDITOR｜MATT LIU
COLORIST｜TERRENCE CHEN
TYPOGRAPHY DESIGN｜YEECHI
COLORIST｜TERRENCE CHEN
TYPOGRAPHY DESIGN｜YEECHI
