Storytelling / 2D Motion · 2026
Xiyuan’s
Bizarre Adventure
Finding familiarity in a new place
A place that became familiar
An autobiographical short about arriving in Australia in 2020 and gradually feeling at home in Coburg. The story moves through unfamiliar streets, a welcoming homestay family and the daily journey to school. Small gestures of care turn an unknown place into one connected with personal memories.
The ending looks beyond my own memories, reflecting on what I learned about Wurundjeri Country. My experience becomes one layer within a place that already holds older names, histories and relationships.
- Project
- RMIT / Storytelling through Design / 2026
- Role
- Personal narrative / Visual development / Animation / Edit
- Tools
- After Effects / Adobe Audition
01
Small moments, changing feelings
A suburban street, a small gesture of care and a map carry the story through unfamiliarity, connection and awareness. Black-and-white linework, restrained movement and on-screen text keep the focus on these personal moments.
02
From personal photographs to characters
Photographs of my homestay grandparents guided the character development. Familiar clothing, expressions and silhouettes preserve recognition, while simplified linework connects the figures with the visual language of the film.
03
Planning the emotional sequence
An eleven-frame storyboard sets out the journey from arrival and uncertainty to care, routine and reflection. These original sketches record the early sequence, with notes on how personal memory connects to naming and a wider understanding of place.
04
Building movement through layers
Characters, backgrounds, route lines and text were arranged as separate layers in After Effects. Small movements and changes in visibility guide attention through the scenes; the Coburg composition shows how these elements are timed together.
Personal narrative and animation: Xiyuan Bai. Music: Someone in the Crowd, from La La Land (2016). Full reference and music credits appear at the end of the film.