This film began not with a sketch, but with a story—the one my father told me about his father. From the moment I heard it, I felt a deep need to bring that memory to life: a seemingly ordinary afternoon at his primary school in Japan that became a defining moment of love.
I wanted the film to look the way a memory feels—warm, hazy, and glowing at the edges, which is why I chose a painterly, dreamlike style. It’s a journey through my father’s childhood eyes, from eager anticipation to the crushing disappointment of being forgotten, and finally to the pure, unburdened joy of being found.
For me, this was never just an animation. It was a conversation across time; a way for me to meet the grandfather I never knew through my father’s love for him. It is my act of love to ensure a piece of our family history isn’t forgotten. Because some memories are so powerful, they deserve to become a legacy.
Concept Designs:
Character Design
Color Script
Animatics