年獸 Nian Shou
During Chinese New Year, Nian Shou, a fearsome man-eating monster scorned by the villagers, receives his yearly sacrificial human tribute in the form of an innocent, wide-eyed child, Little Apple. How will fate change when their paths collide? "年獸 Nian Shou" is a senior thesis created fully by Judy Yang.
年獸 Nian Shou
年獸 Nian Shou
Traditionally, villages celebrate Chinese New Year with lively firework displays, but the presence of a man-eating monster, Nian Shou, casts a dark shadow over one village. To pacify the beast, the village started a tradition of human sacrifice. How will Little Apple, this year's tribute, survive the night?
The film is not publicly released yet and is privately available only for judges and recruiters. Please enjoy some behind-the-scenes shots that brought this film to life.
Film Stills
Stars of the Film
Little Apple
Meet Little Apple, the chosen human sacrifice for this new year. Though she's in a dire position as a tribute, Little Apple shows no fear in front of the monstrous Nian Shou. Her innocence, kindness, and quirkiness are her greatest strength.
Little Apple's character design has evolved throughout the brainstorming process. One thing that stayed consistent was her plump, rosy cheeks.
Nian Shou
Nian Shou is the fearsome, man-eating monster who wreaks havoc on Little Apple's village. Is he truly as villainous as the village depicts him?
Inspired by Chinese legends, the design of Nian Shou has evolved the most. Through constant changes, I had fun exploring his character in 2D and 3D. Here are some of Nian Shou's early designs and color explorations.
Shadow Puppetry
The prologue of the film is heavily inspired by Chinese Shadow Puppetry and has gone through several variations before settling on the final version.
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