The Virus
The Virus is a short animated drama set during the COVID-19 pandemic — when a bat's ordinary life is turned upside down overnight...When hate becomes the virus, is there a vaccine?
Based on real experiences.
Length: 1 min 29 s
Creator: Zixin Yang
Responsibilities: Character Design, Modeling, XGen Grooming, Texturing, Lookdev, Lighting, Rigging, Animation, Compositing
Software: Maya, Arnold, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Nuke, Photoshop, Premiere
Awards:
Rhode Island International Film Festival — Official Selection
LA Film Awards — Semi-Finalist
LA Independent Women Film Award
During the pandemic, as an Asian, I experienced anti-Asian hate firsthand — people who once treated me with kindness suddenly looked at me with suspicion and hostility. Standing in a supermarket line, I was met with aggressive stares and spat at. We couldn't fight back. So I made this film instead. If hate spreads like a virus, what's the vaccine?
.. CONCEPT ART ..
.. MODEL & RIG ..
.. GROOMING ..
Rigged using Advanced Skeleton, built for expressive facial animation and full body performance.
XGen grooming for body and facial hair, designed to translate naturally under different lighting conditions.