Into the Spirit World
Into the Spirit World is a body of work that explores a narrative about a young girl in adolescence who struggles with feeling lost in her own world, not wanting to grow up. One day, after making a wish at a shrine, she goes home to discover a mysterious mirror that transports her to a spirit world. Upon being transported, she herself has transformed into a spirit, and a piece of the mirror breaks off. In order for her to return to her own world and body, she must navigate unknown lands with an animal spirit to find the missing mirror shard. Into the Spirit World consists of 2D animation and digital illustration. The animation, entitled Fractured, captures the inciting incident that changes the status quo of the normal world into one of chaos and uncertainty, and is accompanied by a series of companion illustrations that depict an imagined movie poster, animation stills, as well as a behind the scenes look at the conceptual framework of the story.
Combining Eastern and Western cultures, Into the Spirit World imposes elements such as warm color schemes, reoccurring symbols like diamonds, and takes inspiration from traditional Japanese fashion in the form of Lolita style. Seen as a reaction against society, Lolita is a way to escape adulthood, and is also an escape to a fantasy world, where an ideal identity can be created that would normally not be accepted in everyday life.
Building on the meaning behind Lolita, the main character of Fractured is gifted a bracelet to symbolize her coming of age, however, when she is transported through the mirror, the bracelet gets stuck, and eventually breaks, and is the only thing that remains of her in the normal world. This symbolizes her refusal to accept adulthood and the inevitable change that comes with growing up.
The spirit world itself is a distorted reflection of reality. In order to emphasize this distortion, the main character’s color scheme becomes inverted, and colors are shifted chromatically.
Interested in the magical and mystical, the artist of Into the Spirit World is passionate about creating stories that establish a sense of “otherworldliness” and evoking a feeling of wonder through creative imagery. This exhibit focuses on elements that emphasize childlike wonder, and relays themes that address loss of innocence, fear of change, and finding a way to acceptance
Video Stills
Fractured Video Still, 2021, Digital, Dimensions variable, A still from the film Fractured depicting the main character passing by a magical mirror as she walks down a hallway in her manor. 
Fractured Video Still, 2021, Digital, Dimensions variable, A still from the film Fractured depicting a close-up of the main character as she enters the spirit world. 
Fractured Video Still, 2021, Digital, Dimensions variable, A still from the film Fractured depicting the main character inspecting a magical mirror that suddenly appears in her manor. 
Fractured Video Still, 2021, Digital, Dimensions variable, A still from the film Fractured depicting an establishing shot of a city in which the film is set in. 
Fractured Video Still, 2021, Digital, Dimensions variable, A still from the film Fractured depicting a shine where many people have come to make wishes at. 
Fractured Video Still, 2021, Digital, Dimensions variable, A still from the film Fractured depicting a far away shot of the main character as she falls into the spirit world.
Fractured – Character Details (above) 2021, Digital, Dimensions variable, These digital artworks gives a behind-the-scenes look at the conceptual framework behind the film Fractured.
Click HERE to see the character sheets for this animation.
Fractured Movie Poster, 2021, Digital, Dimensions variable, This digital artwork illustrates the main characters of the animation Fractured in an imagined movie poster. (6 detail images above and poster below)
