An artistic interpretation of the story of 踏先君 Taxian Jun; sort of the prologue to the current timeline in the novel 二哈和他的白猫师尊  Husky and his White Cat Shizun by 肉包不吃肉 Meatbun Doesn’t Eat Meat.

*Spoiler warning*

Mo Ran, also known as Taxian Jun, is both the protagonist and his own antagonist in the Chinese fantasy novel Husky and his White Cat Shizun by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou. After being reborn, the novel focuses on Mo Ran’s redemption journey, sharing pieces of his first life as a tyrant through flashbacks over the 311 chapters. I was drawn to these backstories because I wanted to comprehend how someone naturally kind could become so cruel. Following my practice of always considering characters in their entirety, I compiled the flashbacks to illustrate Mo Ran’s transformation from victim to tyrant. 

The song 哈哈 Haha by 蔡徐坤 Cai Xukun reminded me of Mo Ran’s transformation into Taxian Jun as his heart was slowly devoured by a madness of hatred, jealousy, guilt, and sorrow. The song’s sound of eerily desperate laughter could have easily come from the cynical tyrant, or victim, himself. While only focusing on a fraction of Mo Ran’s story, I wanted to capture the complexity of this character through a portrayal of his background; everything that has made him into the person I first met at the beginning of the novel. 

I see Mo Ran as a victim who gave in to the cruelties of the world. He held onto resentment and severed friendships in his search for control to never be hurt again. In the animatic, I emphasize the different emotions Mo Ran experiences, because I believe emotions do not exist exclusively. Underlying every haughty gaze is a fear of loneliness and in every cruel smile lingers a bitter taste. I also wanted to give justice to the complex relationship between Mo Ran and his rival, his teacher, the only one who doesn’t hate him. While Mo Ran strives to become omnipotent, he cannot deny the yearning for someone’s care. 

Mo Ran’s transformation supports my belief in the importance of communication and connection. If you have strong, supportive relationships that validate you and give you a sense of belonging, then even when life hits hard, you will not fall because you already know you are enough.

Story 

二哈和他的白猫师尊  Husky and his White Cat Shizun by 肉包不吃肉 Meatbun Doesn’t Eat Meat

For more information on the novel go here: https://erhainfo.carrd.co/# 

Music

哈哈 Haha by 蔡徐坤 Cai Xukun

*The credits at the beginning list artwork and animation by jyonvin.art, which was my previous Instagram username.