Character No. 1 constantly dreams of Character No. 2. The body painfully cracks, and red flowers sprout from the fissures. The doctor diagnoses it as love. Now, Character No. 1 must come to terms with their feelings and decide whether to open their soul to the object of their affection or endure the pain further, fearing the consequences of confession.

When you fall in love, confessing feels frightening because no one guarantees that the feelings are mutual. What happens after you confess—a happy life or tragedy? But love doesn’t allow you to simply lock yourself away; it bursts from your chest, from your back, from beneath your ribs—cracking the shell of your body and sprouting like a rose bush. This is exactly what is happening to Character No. 1.

The protagonist is central to the story and allows the viewer to associate with themselves. The anguish of being in love is a theme close to nearly everyone; in moments like these, one especially wants to be understood and to share their pain with someone. Through Character No. 1, the viewer can see a kindred spirit going through the same experience, making them feel less alone.

To emphasize the exhaustion brought on by intense emotion, the decision was made to depict the hero as weary and cracked, as if poised to shatter into countless pieces.

Have you ever seriously thought that a person glows? I have. And Character No. 1 has too. Or maybe it never seemed that way? Character No. 2 is an image of someone beautiful, kind, soft, and unattainable. Sometimes you look at your favorite being and wonder if it’s truly a person, or an angel or some mythical creature. And you want to melt into those warm arms and that cloudy puffer coat.

A serious and straightforward physician. He only presents established facts, diagnosing Character No. 1 with the reality he must accept. The doctor offers no sympathy or support—his sole purpose is to state the truth and offer advice.

A picture will follow below.

This might all be written on the title slide.Target AudienceAges 16–25—people currently experiencing romantic love, or for whom representing love is important not just as a bright and romantic phase, but as a deeply painful emotional experience.Running Time3 minutes and 31 seconds. In this time, I aim to fully develop the short film’s theme and convey all the feelings and suffering of the protagonist.FormatA short, independent animated film, where the author recounts personal feelings through characters. The narrative is built upon metaphors and visual imagery. The story has an open ending.TechniqueFrame-by-frame 2D computer animation. The film is rendered in a black-and-white palette with pops of color—a visual choice made to emphasize the protagonist’s helplessness as he is tormented by his emotions and left alone with them. The sound design should underscore the heaviness of the feelings experienced by Character No. 1, as well as the indifference of the world around him.

The main action of the animated film takes place in the streets of an ordinary, gray city and in the apartment of the protagonist—silent and indifferent. The world is static and gray, while Character No. 1 is torn apart by turbulent inner emotions. The setting reflects the overall black-and-white color palette of the short film.

here will be a city background