< Dandelion >

Directed by Jackie Liao

Summary:

Amy is a little girl who can’t accept her grandfather’s passing away. Her grandfather always taught her, 'Life is like dandelions. They won't disappear. They are just going to a new place to start a new life...' These words are embedded in her heart, but she never notices that. However, while she keeps feeling sad of her grandfather's death, these sentences give her infinite courage to release her mind.

www.jackieliao.com

 

- Director’s Statement

Living together with my grandparents and being taken exquisite care since the childhood, I’ve been deeply affected by a strong feeling toward my family. I didn’t really come to apprehend what life truly is in the other way until going through my grandpa’s death. By presenting this piece, I’d like to reveal the intimate connections tightly bound among families through the form of animation, as well as to elaborate the concept of “circle of lives” and “natural rules” from the aspect of dandelions. Take life and death with a peace of mind, and what’s more important is value every single moment spent with families.

 

- Awards

  • Best Animation, 4C Digital Art Contest, Taipei, Taiwan (Feb. 6, 2007)
  • Best Animation, Long Island International Film Expo, NY, USA (July 12-19,2007)
  • Best Animation, Ojai Film Festival, Ojai, CA, USA (Oct 4-7,2007)
  • Best Student Animation, Backlot Film Festival, Culver City, CA, USA (Apr 2-5,2008)
  • 3rd Place, FilmGate International Student Film Festival, St. Louis, MO, USA(Aug 17-19,2007)
  • Jury Recognition Award, MetroCAF2007, New York, USA (Sep 27, 2007)
  • Jury Recognition Award, TBS Digicon 6+3 Digital Art Contest, Taipei, Taiwan (Sep 27, 2007)
  • Best Animation Nominated (Top 3), Aarhus Festival of Independent Arts, Denmark (April 25-30,2007)

Jackie Liao

Deeply influenced by Chinese traditional culture and Japanese comics and animations in his childhood, Jackie Liao’s films and designs reveal a strong and remarkable Asian style. From traditional painting to computer animation, his works are created with a variety of forms and mediums. However, his only insistence for each piece is to spare no efforts finding the most interesting and acceptable idiosyncrasy to present a profound and resonant subject matter.    

Born in HsinChu city, Taiwan in 1978, Liao grew up in a teachers’ family and completed his bachelor degree in Civil Engineering in 2000. Instead of being an engineer, he decided to integrate his computer techniques and mathematics knowledge into his intense desire of creating art and being an artist.

In 2003, Jackie began his study in 3D animation at School of Visual Arts in New York City, the initial stage of his artistic life. He received his Master of Fine Art degree in Computer Arts and graduated with honor in 2006. Currently, Liao is a NYC based 3D artist with the permanent pursuit of exploring the art of moving images.

 

Personal Website: www.jackieliao.com