- CollegeLondon College of Communication
- CourseMA Animation
- Graduation year2025
This film tells the story of a young woman grappling with intense social pressure and beauty standards. Each time she faces a mirror, her reflection distorts into a monstrous figure, and this fear gradually consumes her. At the brink of being completely overwhelmed by this terror, she realizes that escape and resistance are futile. Her only path to liberation is to bravely confront and ultimately accept her imperfect self. Using surreal visual metaphors, the film vividly portrays this internal struggle, culminating in a powerful message about shattering fears and embracing one's true identity.
Final work
video
"Reflection" is a stylized 2D animated short film that delves into the profound journey of self-acceptance. It explores how an individual, under the weight of family and societal pressures, learns to face and embrace their own imperfections. Through its minimalist lines, expressive hand-drawn animation, and an emotional color arc that shifts from cold to warm tones, the film invites the audience on an intimate voyage into the inner self.
film information
Logline: An individual grappling with societal and familial pressures embarks on a journey toward self-acceptance.
Synopsis: Under the pressure of society’s beauty standards, a young girl falls into a world shaped by her own fears. She must face her imperfections to truly accept herself.
Credits: Animator, Director, Editor - Xinyu Xiong
Director Statement: Reflection was born out of my exploration of individual identity in modern society. We are always struggling between the expectations of family and society and our true selves, and this short film is a visual representation of that inner dialogue. I chose a minimalist style and hand-drawn animation, deliberately stripping away unnecessary details so that every line and every shift in color directly reflects the character's inner world. From the oppressive cool tones to the ultimately liberating warm tones, the trajectory of the colors mirrors the protagonist's emotional arc. Creating it was a process of reconciling with myself. I hope to tell every viewer: seeing your own cracks and still embracing them is, in itself, a form of wholeness.
Research and process
More project information
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