Zero Tan

I set the story’s background in ancient China, as the distant past itself gives a sense of legend and imagination. Placing a fantasy story in such a long-ago era helps enhance its storytelling quality. The animation is intended for audiences of all ages. Originally, I wanted to convey the idea that kindness brings unexpected help, but due to the limited duration of the animation, I wasn’t able to express this theme as fully as I had hoped.

The protagonist’s kindness was originally meant to be shown through his calmness — he never gets angry no matter how mischievous the firefly is. However, my portrayal of the emotions wasn’t detailed enough to fully express this idea.

Secondly, to reflect the historical setting, I created a pavilion designed in ancient Chinese style, as well as traditional-style clothing. Although it’s not explicitly stated in the animation, the audience can easily tell that the story doesn’t take place in modern times. For the costume design, I didn’t strictly follow traditional Chinese clothing styles — instead, I incorporated some modern aesthetics, such as short skirts and more form-fitting designs, to make the characters more appealing to contemporary viewers.