A Weasel Asking For a Title

2024 Fall

Create an animation in the style of Chinese shadow puppetry, tell a folk story from Northeast China about the weasel seeking a title.

CONCEPT
Some weasels who cultivate will wear straw hats and speak in human language, asking people they meet, 'Do I look like a human?' If the person responds ’Yes‘, the weasel will succeed, and its cultivation will greatly improve. However, if the answer is 'no' or something else, the weasel will lose decades of cultivation.

CREATIVE WRITING
Zhao Qian made a living hunting weasels. One time, while hunting in the mountains, he chased a weasel deep into the forest. As night was falling, he found a small cave to spend the night. After darkness set in, Zhao Qian lit a bonfire for warmth. Suddenly, he felt as though someone was watching him. Turning around, he saw a giant human-like shadow on the rock wall behind him. Calming himself down, he realized it was a weasel.

The weasel wore a straw hat, and just as Zhao Qian was puzzled, the weasel suddenly spoke.

"Do I look like a human?" it asked.

Zhao Qian was too scared to move.

"Do I look like a human?" the weasel asked again.

"Yes, you look like a human!" Zhao Qian blurted out, not knowing what else to say.

The weasel smiled, satisfied with the answer, and turned to leave.

As Zhao Qian began to relax, he noticed that the weasel’s retreating figure increasingly resembled himself. Realizing something, he quickly looked down at his own hands. They were no longer hands but a pair of furry paws.

CHARACTER DESIGN

STYLEFRAME

DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

Scene 1:
The clouds in the sky (Empty Shot + Tilt Down)
The mountains (Empty Shot)
(Dolly Out + Full Shot) Zhao Qian comes into view

Scene 2:
(Truck Right + Full Shot) The weasel comes into view, turns its head, then starts running forward

(Full Shot + Tracking Shot) Camera follows Zhao Qian as he runs and shoot an arrows
(Long Shot + Tracking Shot + 2 Shot) The arrow’s trajectory is visible, it misses. They continue running as the light gradually dims, indicating it's becoming evening

(Full Shot) Camera focuses on the weasel as it climbs up a tree

(Zoom Out + Full Shot + 2 Shot) Zhao Qian arrives, turning left and right like a shadow puppet

(Cowboy Shot + Tracking Shot) Zhao Qian doesn't find the weasel, bends down his back, then continues walking forward

(Long Shot) Zhao Qian find a cave ahead
(Cowboy Shot) He walks into the cave

Scene 3:
(Medium Long Shot) Zhao Qian sees a dead tree at the entrance, stops, bends down to pick it up, and walks into the cave

(Full Shot) Zhao Qian throws down the dead wood, it ignites, and he sets aside his bow and arrow, sitting with his back slightly bent. Suddenly, the flame is shaking heavily

(Cowboy Shot) Zhao Qian, alert, sits up straight, camera moves down, he quickly reaches for his bow
(Close up) The eyeballs look from side to side, and after looking from side to side twice, they suddenly fix and narrow.

(Empty Shot) The camera focuses on the stone wall, there was a huge shadow on it, and after the shadow shifted dramatically, the fire on the ground went out and the hue turned cold

Scene 4:
(Full Shot) Camera focuses on Zhao Qian, turning left and right like a shadow puppet

(Full Shot) Camera focuses on the cave entrance, backlit, showing the weasel’s silhouette and its shadow on the nearby stone wall

(Medium Long Shot + 2 Shot) The weasel takes two steps forward and asks, "Do I look like a human?" Zhao Qian scrambles took two steps backward on all fours, not answering

(Full Shot) Camera focuses on the Zhao Qian, who remains in his original position, and Weasel asks, “Do I look like a human being? Zhao Qian sweats and replies yes

(Full Shot) The weasel smiles and nods twice

Scene 5: From First-person POV
(Full Shot) The back of the weasel, the camera doesn't move, the weasel walks farther and farther away, as it walks farther and farther away, it gradually turns into the back of Zhao Qian.
(Camera Move) Slowly pans left, then quickly returns back to the weasel, finally quickly downward
(Close Up) A pair of paws

STORYBOARD

DESIGN BOARD

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