Warmth in a Puddle [Director: Sorao Sakimura]

Created by

Sorao Sakimura

2024, now challenging in the international film festivals!

Born in 2001.
At the age of 18, his short animation "The Voice of Cicadas, the Feel of the Wind" won the Grand Prix at the "WIRED CREATIVE HACK AWARD 2020" as the youngest winner. He was selected as one of the 100 filmmakers 2023 NEWCOMER in the "100 filmmakers + NEWCOMER 100".

Sorao Sakimura Official(JPN)

JAPANESE PAGE

Voice Actor：	Ryohei Kitsunai
Sound Design：	bpm Inc.,
Producer：	Takuya Nagamori

produced by

Cinema Creators’ Lab

Summary

In a dimly lit room where only the sound of the ventilation fan echoes, the young man encounters a fish.
The fish, distorted in shape, looks somewhat like the young man himself.
The fish, which had been lying limp, suddenly jumps up and flies out of the window, floating in the air.
The young man stares at the fish as it disappears into a puddle on the street, and becomes transported to a strange space.
Alone and dark all the way, this world somewhat resembles the young man’s imagined landscape.
This short animated film expresses the “difficulty of living” in the world as seen from the director’s own perspective through fantastical animation.

From Director

I have walked alongside this work for the past year. Every moment of pain and salvation is packed within this piece. Now that the work is complete and about to be presented to the world, it’s time for this work to walk alone. It’s a moment of loneliness for me, but at the same time, I feel a strange sense of fulfilment.

This is a piece about the difficulty of living. It’s the struggle that I experience. However, I believe there’s something beyond that. It’s something that doesn’t just end in a struggle.

I hope that every individual will realize their interpretation of “something” as this film gets more attention. This film could not have been completed on my own. I would especially like to appreciate Mr. Nagamori, the chief producer of Kodansha Cinema Creators Lab, was who not just a producer but a true “buddy” to me.

Also, I would like to express my gratitude here to everyone who participated in the production and contributed greatly, including Mr. Harada in music and sound.

“Warmth in a Puddle.” I believe a peculiar work has been created that cannot be labelled as a specific genre – animation or live-action, indie or commercial. I am very much looking forward to where this journey will lead to.

February 27, 2024
Sorao Sakimura

More Information&News（As of November 13th,2024)

・Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2024（Japan）【 Selected 】
・Scandinavian International Film Festival（Finland）【 Selected 】
・International Short Film Festival Berlin – Sound & Vision（Germany）【 Screened 】