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Ming, a young monk in training, hopes to make her master proud, but her anxiety is proving difficult to overcome. After being tasked with lighting the temple altar, Ming will have to work through her fears to rise to the occasion.

Visual inspiration for Ming was pulled from traditional Chinese art and films like Kubo and the Two Strings, Aladdin, and Kung Fu Panda.

Learn More

Student Film Ming Named an Official Selection for SIFF 2019

Process Gallery

  • A slide displaying the stylized title of the short film "Ming."
  • A slide displaying the names of the Pernikitty Studios team.
  • A slide outlining the art style the team used for the characters' body shapes.
  • A slide outlining the visual style references for the protagonist, Ming.
  • A slide with a turnaround of the character model for Ming.
  • A slide displaying a variety of facial expressions for Ming.
  • A slide outlining the visual style references for Ming's master, Cheng-Fu.
  • A concept design slide for the character Master Cheng-Fu.
  • A slide with a turnaround of the character model for Master Cheng-Fu.
  • A slide displaying a variety of facial expressions for Master Cheng-Fu.
  • A slide displaying a variety of visual references for the design of the film's tiger statues.
  • A slide displaying a variety of poses for the film's tiger statues.
  • A slide displaying visual references for the temple interior.
  • A slide displaying the visual references for lighting in the temple at the start of the film.
  • A slide displaying the visual references for lighting in the temple at the end of the film.
  • A slide displaying animation references for Ming.
  • A slide featuring the color script for the film.
  • A slide featuring the color script for the film.
  • A slide featuring matte paintings for the film's backgrounds.
  • A slide of "look and feel" concept art from the film.
  • A slide displaying a CG render test from a scene in the film.

Awards and Recognition

  • 2019 Imagination Lunchbox International Children’s Film Festival

    Most Uplifting Film

  • 2019 Marin County International Festival of Short Film & Video

    Finalist

Official Selections and Screenings

  • 2020 Children’s Film Festival Seattle
  • 2019 Palm Springs International Animation Festival
  • 2019 ZERO PLUS International Film Festival
  • 2019 Seattle International Film Festival
  • 2019 VAFI & RAFI - International Children and Youth Animation Film Festival
  • 2019 Kino Film Festival
  • 2019 Cinemira-Budapest International Children’s Film Festival
  • 2019 ZLÍN International Festival for Children and Youth
  • 2019 Athens Animfest
  • 2019 Animation Dingle Festival
  • 2018 InShort Film Festival

The Team

  • Maria Becerra

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Technical Rigging Artist, FX Concept Artist

  • Nelida Sainz Garcia

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Lead Animator, Story Editor

  • Grace Howard

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Character Artist, Lighting and Compositing

  • Brenna Johnson

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Art Director, Concept Artist, Animator

  • Cody Maki

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Character Artist, Cloth Sim Artist, Lighting and Compositing

  • Brooke Robertson

    BA in Music and Sound Design

    Role: Composer, Sound Designer

  • Phoenix Sokolan

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Producer, Environment Artist, Lighting and Compositing

Animation Stills

  • Ming looks downward with a concerned look in her eyes.
  • Ming holds two rocks together ceremoniously with her eyes closed before an altar.
  • Ming's red-robed master looks stoically into the distance.
  • Ming stands nervously before an altar and an intimidating tiger statue in a temple.
  • An intimidating statue of a tiger with its claws reared.