Yizhao Jiao (Wolf)

“Rainbow-Colored Butterfly” is a music video animation project inspired by the eponymous song. It unfolds as my original characters and tale are set in Japan’s Edo period, delving into the world of yokai (monsters) and humans.

Meet Seina, a young Miko (shrine maiden) who has been destined from birth to be offered as a sacrifice to the gods, symbolising the pursuit of happiness for the people. Raised within the confines of a shrine, Seina received strict training and education, learning the rituals, traditions, and skills of her role as the intermediary between humans and deities.

As the guardian and performer of sacred ceremonies, Seina possesses innate spiritual powers. She serves the shrine and its followers, while her extraordinary abilities allow her to “see” glimpses of the past and future by merely gazing upon or touching objects or individuals.

Day after day, the rigorous education has moulded her to believe that safeguarding the believers and the village is her inherent mission and duty.

However, the shrine authorities, aware of Seina’s ultimate fate, chose to isolate her in a secluded forest retreat, concealing her eyes from the outside world. They refrained from teaching her how to control her powers, leaving her with limited personal interactions.

The name “Seina (星无)” signifies a starless night, when the radiant moonlight overwhelms the faint twinkling of stars.

On the other hand, Tengu, a powerful yokai (monster), roams freely through the mountains. Monsters’ behaviour cannot be measured by human standards. He, with his lengthy lifespan, doesn’t require deliberate nourishment, and consuming spiritual energy is merely to enhance his own power. In the pursuit of spiritual energy, he indulges in interacting with lost humans in the forest, inquiring about their desires and granting their wishes before ultimately devouring them.

In the narrative of the video, the isolated shrine maiden is discovered by the Tengu, breaking the cycle of her solitary life. As the Tengu seeks amusement, he attempts to communicate with her and takes her out to play, leading to the development of a profound bond between them. However, when Seina is carried by the Tengu and flies over the village, witnessing the beauty of its future, she begins to believe that her sacrifice can indeed bring about a brighter world. As a result, she firmly chooses to fulfil her sacrificial duty.

In the end, she finally expresses her own wish to the Tengu, that is to take her back and fulfil her duty.

However, in her final moments, as the ritual unfolds, Seina’s mask slips off, and reflected in her eyes is the sight of the shrine engulfed in flames.

It is in that moment, when everything is too late, that the Tengu arrives, realising his true desire is for Seina to live on.

Time is limited, and I couldn't present the complete story I created to correspond with the entire composition. I hope my written explanation can help you better understand the essence of the story.

To continue my previous project, as you can see, it’s only a little over a minute long, yet I have so much text. In order to provide the audience with a more complete understanding of my story without the need for additional explanatory text, I have created an editorial-style book that revolves around the text-generated illustrations I designed.

I have taken into consideration the bilingual reading experience. I have designed the English text to be horizontally laid out, while the Chinese text is presented vertically. This interplay of text creates a visually captivating and artistic effect. Additionally, I have incorporated illustrations in the style of ukiyo-e, a popular art form during the Edo period in Japan, to complement the text and guide the viewer’s visual focus.

The book features a smaller format, approximately one-third of an A4-sized paper, resembling the traditional “hosoban” format used in ukiyo-e prints. The horizontal layout provides a wide visual perspective on each page.

In the layout of the story pages, I have utilised editorial techniques to create a rhythm and flow for the reader, akin to the experience of reading a comic. I hope that as you read through the book, you will be able to appreciate this deliberate pacing and breathing rhythm.