The Exquisite World of AURA
a short film by Chun Chun Chang

The world of animation is a beautiful thing. The possibilities are endless, with its imagination opening up visions only previously seen in dreams. In the new short film by Chun Chun Chang, Aura, the world created not only expands the powerful beauty of mother nature but blends it with the idea of otherworldly beings.

In the film, a man alone at sea is caught in a fierce storm. During his treacherous journey, he encounters a gentle spirit within the storm. Was it a goddess, was it even real? 

Aura is radiantly told through animation. There is a seamless combination of mysticism, mythology, and the deadly force of water. At times you are fascinated that you are watching animation because the world is breathtaking. I can’t think of another animated film where the water looks so real. Having animators in my inner circle, I know there is a particular person that is drawn to this art world, and Chang’s introduction was a mix of timing and expression.

“There are so many things you can play within the animation. A pacing change in the same movement can tell the story differently,” Chang explains. “A gentle movement of the light can make the shot more dynamic. Even a difference in camera movement can imply the emotions of the characters.” 

Aura was created using motion graphics, and while it is different than animation, they both incorporate the concept of motion. It’s hard to not make the connection between the motion of animation and the motion of your hand in traditional pen & paper art, so it’s no surprise that Chang’s first introduction to this art form was through the latter.

“I was really into illustrations and figure drawings. My very first two films were 2D hand-drawn too,” Chang explains. “Later, I focused more on computer animation, but I've always been fascinated by the texture and warmth of the hand-drawn style.”

The warmth she found herself first attracted to in the pen & paper flowed into the animation of Aura. Each frame of the film consists of water or clouds gliding past each other as they overtake the sailor. Calm and chaos revolve around each other visually, but also through the delicate choice of sound Chang chose to use in her film. The film is only 4 minutes, so there is no real need for dialogue, but the balance between sound and sight created a breathtaking situation.

“It's all about balance. Not adding dialogue means both visuals and music can have more space to perform. I like the smoothness of the pacing that combining only visuals and music brings,” Change elaborates. “It feels purer and simpler to me. That being said, I'd love to try voiceover on my next film. I think it provides a more intuitive immersion.”

Aura may seem pure and simple on the surface, but like the vast depths of the ocean, this film is so much more. After viewing the film, I felt that I went on a journey,  prevailing through a raging storm. It could represent surviving 2020, or a plethora of things. When an artist creates art, it is to represent an internal desire to express their unspoken feelings. It’s not necessarily the job of the viewer to interpret them exactly, but the interpretation is one of the fascinating aspects of creativity. I couldn’t help but wonder if my ideas were similar to what Chang tried to facilitate.

“My works are like my diary sometimes. I embed my thoughts and feelings from different periods into the films. And those aren't always related to the main storylines,” Chang articulates. 

That made me wonder, does Chang have an underlying intention when she creates her stories, a focus on what ‘issues’ she’s going to tackle in a particular project?

“As for your question, I'd say both. I need an intention or a storyline before I start a project, so I often spend quite some time looking for ideas that could trigger me to want to create a film, and those meanings or intentions evolve while creating the film,” she points out.

No matter what the original design of a project may be, the outcome will always be personal to anyone who witnesses the final product. That’s one of the most magnificent gifts art gives the world. It’s a way for us to become connected through something outside of ourselves. The synopsis for Aura mentions a ‘goddess,’ but I see this entity as something else. For me, this protective woman in the clouds signifies our ancestors, or guardians, and their presence during turbulent times. That concept may tilt more towards the spiritual side, but I was still left with the feeling of hope.

“I've heard other feedback from the audience thinking the sailor died in the end. It's quite interesting to hear about different interpretations,” Chang remarks. “It gives me a chance to see my films from new perspectives. I think it a benefit to making a film without dialogue. It gives more room for the audience to imagine their own version of the story.” 

I believe that’s why I found myself speechless at the end of Aura. It was a film that presented itself with intention, yet allowed for interpretation to flow freely from the viewer. Sometimes we are caught in the middle of an endless and dangerous storm, but relief is never far off. We all have our personal ways to deal with and heal from trauma, and for me, art is a big part of that process.

I am excited to see what the future looks like for Chang and her artistic adventures. Her projects are personal and captivating, and it’s no wonder she waits for inspiration to find her before she creates. Until then, she is sharing her talents with others, helping to create other meaningful projects.

“For now, I'm working in teams as a lead animator for a non-profit animated short film and a VFX artist for a sci-fi live-action short film,” Chang notes.

Aura recently screened at the 2021 Crystal Palace International Film Festival and the 2021 Sonoma International Film Festival.

Written by Lisa M Mejia
Images provided by London Flair PR