WHO IS THE ZOOKEEPER
animated short film – DIRECT TECHNIQUE SCULPTURAL RELIEF ON MULTI-PLANE
12:47 min | 2048 × 1080 | sound: dolby 5.1 | 2024
synopsis
A young soul ventures into a shadowed world, reflecting a fragile state of humanity. She searches for grounding in memories of a universe shaped by kindness. As despair closes in, the way out reveals itself — behind the mirror.
.jpg "Jinghan Zhang portrait")
Jinghan Zhang
Producer
Masha Vasilkovsky
Director / Animation Artist / Writer
Ruah Edelstein
Director / Animation Artist / Writer
Production notes
Who Is the Zookeeper was developed over three and a half years. The script was written in the summer of 2021, with production completed in 2024.
As the world moved through successive crises during this time, the film revealed new dimensions. Each stage of its making unfolded alongside these shifts, shaping the way we perceived its inner movement.
Where is the cure for despair that might restore balance?It may reside in any one of us.
As the world moved through successive crises during this time, the film revealed new dimensions. Each stage of its making unfolded alongside these shifts, shaping the way we perceived its inner movement.
Where is the cure for despair that might restore balance?It may reside in any one of us.
ANIMATION TECHNIQUE
The film’s three-dimensional spatial illusion is achieved through sculptural relief animation on a three-layer glass multiplane.
To reach the desired plasticity, we developed a custom oil-based clay within the studio. In selected scenes, clay animation is combined with sand, including one sequence created entirely with fluorescent sand under black light.
All scenes were animated directly under the camera, with spatial action unfolding through multiple characters moving within the frame. The eyes of the main character are illuminated from behind with LED light, creating a living presence.
Character performance remained central throughout the process.
To reach the desired plasticity, we developed a custom oil-based clay within the studio. In selected scenes, clay animation is combined with sand, including one sequence created entirely with fluorescent sand under black light.
All scenes were animated directly under the camera, with spatial action unfolding through multiple characters moving within the frame. The eyes of the main character are illuminated from behind with LED light, creating a living presence.
Character performance remained central throughout the process.
Still frames
.JPG)
Still frames
.JPG)
Still frames
.JPG)
Still frames
.JPG)
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / PRODUCER Jinghan Zhang
DIRECTOR / ANIMATION ARTIST / WRITER Masha Vasilkovsky
DIRECTOR / ANIMATION ARTIST / WRITER Ruah Edelstein
COMPOSER Bernardo Feldman
SOUND ENGINEER / MIX Jon Amador
VOICE Masha Vasilkovsky
Kendahl Damashek
Dashiell Schumacher
SET SUPERVISOR Yasmina Svetlitsa
RIG CONSTRUCTION Eugene Svetlitsa
PRODUCTION CONSULTANT Sherri Kauk
SCRIPT CONSULTANT Ronald Fel Jones
TECHNICAL SUPPORT Wade Ivy
STUDIO TECHNICIAN 1 Janusz Kocol
STUDIO TECHNICIAN 2 Bryan Strauss (ז״ל)
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Maksim Meleshkin
SET SUPPORT Deane Hettler
STUDIO ELECTRICIAN Bob Hettler
PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT Irena Kocol
ADDITIONAL MUSIC:
Carlos Carty, Steven Allen, JBlanks, Orchestralis,
FlossieWood, PetrenjMusic,
AliveTunes, Crypt-of-Insomnia
SPECIAL THANKS:
Brad Lichtenstein, Jeff Fitzimons, Chris Renteria,
Arsenii Savushkin, Liping Wang, Yongshan Zhang,
Nana Tchitchoua, Sonia Lee,
Museum of Jurassic Technology, Culver City, CA
© Production of Lumen Animae Studios and Jinghan Zhang
© Music Bernardo Feldman (ASCAP)
All Rights Worldwide Reserved