Aug 16, 2023

Sentient radishes bring joy to surrounding plants in Sonie Lim's My Mu.

Today's Cartoon Brew Pick is a lovely series of one-minute shorts titled "My Mu" by animator Sonnyé Lim, whom we introduced in 2013.

This collection of shorts, or micro-shorts, unfolds in a world where plants can become sentient creatures. The radish moo, which has become sentient through the love and care of its human companion, has special powers that allow it to bring happiness to the plants around it.

The small clips, aesthetically cohesive but without a linear narrative, seem to be the result of director Lim's process. My way of working is fairly non-linear and spontaneous. If I plan too much, I often get stuck and my work becomes stilted and uninspired. That's why the world of My Moo is full of surprises and stimulation for me."

After creating the rough animation digitally, Lim moved to physical techniques for line and color; in My Mu, he used crayons; in My Mu, he used a "crayon" to create the animation; in My Mu, he used a "crayon" for the animation; in My Mu, he used a "crayon" for the animation.

"The medium offered the ideal texture for My Mu and was also considered one of the safest options since I work in a draughty environment," she says.

"Crayons are my preferred method, but I will use whatever medium I feel best suits my animation production needs," she continued. Some shorts are made entirely in digital, watercolor, ink, or even stop motion."

The playful camerawork and use of mixed crayons give the film a unique texture that makes the viewer's fingers feel like wax when they touch the screen. There is also a delightful reference to Henri Matisse's "La Danse" in the "Dandy Lions" vignette.

Crayola recently announced that it is launching its own production division, and it might make sense to reach out to Lim.

In the meantime, she will soon be releasing another short film titled "Happy Green," which is a three-minute backstory for characters who will soon appear in "My Mu."