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Black Ice

A speeding train rekindles an ice skater's passion for her sport.

  • Shelley Wang
    Director
  • Chris Casillas
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short
  • Genres:
    Adventure, Drama, Coming of Age, Animation, Short
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes 4 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2025
  • Country of Origin:
    China, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, China
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - School of Visual Arts
Director Biography - Shelley Wang

Hello! I'm Shel, a New York based 2D animator with a passion for storytelling and drawing. I am currently a student at the School of Visual Arts pursuing a BFA in animation.

Many of my artworks reflect my own personal experiences and observations, and my ultimate quest as an animator is to not only make images move, but to bring life to them.

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Director Statement

"Black Ice" is my second year film at SVA. This story about rediscovering childhood joy is based on personal experience. I grew up ice skating, spending many joyful afternoons in the rink as a kid. During my long commutes to school, I frequently look out the train window in awe at the exhilarating speed at which I was traveling. It reminded me of the freedom I felt when skating: the feeling of gliding effortlessly, the rush of wind in my ears as I flew across the smooth icy surface. In my mind, I saw an unlikely connection between two vastly different subjects.

This film is a love letter to Golden Age animation. I was heavily inspired by the short film "Duet" by Glen Keane, and sought to capture that same fluid and gestural style in every stroke of my work.

Many people lose passion for their interests as they grow up. Through telling this story, I hope to remind people of the childhood joy they once had for the things they loved, and encourage people to find inspiration from unlikely sources.