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Iridescent Wings
Project information
“Iridescent Wings” brings attention to cultural preservation and development in modern life. Using the butterfly parasol as a center visual motif, the film aims to inspire younger generations to reinterpret and sustain traditional values in open and contemporary ways.
This film was produced by a team of three as our graduation project at FPT University.
In this project, I was responsible for script writing, character design, props design, storyboarding, animation, VFX and poster design.
- Time
- 14 weeks
- Duration
- 10 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9, 1920x1080 FHD resolution
- Frame rate
- 12fps
Core concept
Hoang is a young artisan specializing in traditional butterfly parasols (lọng bướm), harboring a passionate desire to innovate and create fresh, aesthetically rich forms. However, his creative path faces resistance from his own mentor - a seasoned master who clings to conservative artistic views, haunted by the wounds of his own failed attempts at innovation in the past. Amidst these challenges, the master’s young niece, Na, becomes a wellspring of inspiration and motivation through her pure, childlike love for art; subsequently, Hoang discovers that his mentor has actually continued to innovate in secret all along. Despite facing harsh backlash and mixed opinions across social media, Hoang remains steadfast in his creative vision. Ultimately, his work gains public acceptance and resonates widely, helping his mentor heal from the past and finally embrace and recognize his artistic journey.
Storyboard
Character design
Hoàng
Protagonist
Hoàng is a 25-year-old introspective, gentle artisan driven by an intense intrinsic passion to modernize the traditional Vietnamese butterfly parasol (lọng bướm), steadfastly navigating social prejudice and toxic online scrutiny to preserve his creative authenticity. His character design features stylized, elongated vertical triangle proportions (178 cm, 65 kg) with a slender inverted-triangle torso, a heart-shaped face, and deep monolid eyes with extended corners paired with bold dark brows that signify patience and quiet determination. Making a bold artistic statement against rustic artisan stereotypes, he sports neck-length, wavy platinum-dyed hair, complemented by a modern minimalist wardrobe consisting of a light Henley-collar shirt, tailored high-waisted trousers, and clean leather loafers rendered in serene, neutral tones.
Khiêm
Hoang’s Mentor
Master Khiêm is a 40-year-old composed, highly disciplined craftsman caught between a protective instinct toward his pupil and the lingering trauma of his own youth, when his pioneering attempts at parasol innovation were harshly shut down. Visually anchored by a solid rectangular silhouette and a grounded build (174 cm, 80 kg), his appearance reflects decades of dedication through a benevolent square jaw, meticulous deep-set eyes, silver-streaked dark hair, and thick, calloused artisan hands. He wears utilitarian workshop attire—a slightly faded, paint-splattered short-sleeve t-shirt, relaxed denim work pants, and vintage dark leather shoes—wrapped in a muted, dark color palette that underlines his pragmatic, dependable, and paternal presence.
Na
Khiem’s niece
Na is a vibrant, curious 6-year-old girl brimming with unfiltered innocence and positive energy, serving as an emotional bridge between the two craftsmen generations and the intuitive spark that revives Hoàng’s creative spirit at his lowest point. Designed entirely with soft circular shapes and charming childlike proportions (104 cm, 20 kg with an exaggerated head-to-body ratio), she features full chubby cheeks, wide sparkling eyes, and bouncy dark brown pigtails. Her outfit comprises a playful, pastel-pink flared babydoll dress with puffed sleeves and a scalloped hem, paired with knee-high socks and classic Mary Jane doll shoes, radiating unblemished warmth, tenderness, and youthful delight.
Light form X
Positive entity
Light form X is the benign manifestation of empathy, online encouragement, and creative solidarity within cyberspace, characterized by a sweet, receptive nature that absorbs constructive energy to protect and nourish the artist's soul. Physically compact and spherical (approx. 30 cm), the creature features a single oversized eye capable of displaying warm, cute emotive pupils (such as hearts), gentle curling antennae, and four soft butterfly wings—with the lower pair dynamically functioning as expressive hands to hold the parasol. Its visual identity revolves around an iridescent palette of radiant pastel pink, soft violet, and warm golden-orange, evoking a comforting and magical aura of healing and positive inspiration.
Dark form X
Antagonist
Dark form X is the terrifying mutation spawned when cyberspace absorbs cyberbullying, toxic comments, and mob mentality, degenerating into an aggressive entity that weaponizes public backlash into sharp piercing daggers against the creator. Expanding into an imposing inverted-V silhouette (up to 200 cm), its visual language draws from the multi-eyed Seraphim motif and fractured butterfly anatomy, boasting jagged, razor-sharp wings embedded with vigilant eyes that symbolize constant surveillance and lower wings twisted into predatory claw-like hands. Defined by a glaring, furious pupil and a menacing palette of crimson, magenta, shadowy purple, and pitch black, this entity embodies the suffocating, destructive judgement of the digital realm.
Props design
H1 Hoang’s first parasol
Created by Hoang, the H1 parasol retains the butterfly silhouette, subtly stylized with a sleeker body and softer, folded upper wings. It preserves its traditional symbolism through motifs of eight butterflies on the upper wings and a cluster of custard apples below. Inside, a cobalt-blue base highlights pastel accents and matches the illusion realm's palette, while the outer surface features a pastel hologram gradient representing Hoang's vibrant creativity.
H2 Hoang’s modernized parasol (after rediscovering his passion)
Crafted after Hoang rediscovers his passion, this parasol blends bold innovation with traditional soul through a mix of sharp angles, flowing curves, a slender butterfly body, and sharp eyes. Key motifs include seven eyes—symbolizing judgmental gazes and seven human emotions—and hands holding a hologram gem, representing creative drive and cultural preservation, balanced by soft traditional clouds. The color scheme features a dark blue base accented with traditional red and hints of gold.
N Mr. Khiem’s rabbit parasol (made for little Na)
Designed by Mr. Khiem for little Na, this parasol adopts a rabbit-inspired silhouette to showcase his enduring creative spark and latent devotion to culture. The exterior details cute rabbit features with long ears and round eyes, while the interior illustrates the Moon Rabbit and lotus flowers. The rabbit symbolizes Na's pure love for art and companionship on Hoang's journey, while the lotus represents Buddhist enlightenment, compassion, and resilient perseverance.
X Reflecting superficial adaptation
Parasol X critiques the superficial trend of cultural appropriation disguised as modern innovation. Inspired by Chinese parasol shapes and red spider lily motifs, it prioritizes exterior decoration over traditional Vietnamese interior detailing to expose shallow creative research. Utilizing the color palette of X/a and the Ghost, it reflects the Ghost’s craving for fame—presenting an artifact that appears modern on the surface but lacks true cultural substance.
More props sheets