Private Project

Hide and Seek

"Hide and Seek" is a 3D animated short film that takes viewers on a bittersweet journey. It presents a story of a person hiding their queer identity from their parents at different stages of life. The film highlights the struggles faced by the queer community as they grow up and explores the fantasy of queer spaces with queer phenomenology.

  • Junjie Xu
    Director
  • JUNJIE XU
    Writer
  • JUNJIE XU
    Producer
  • VV Day
    Music Composer
  • Joe Hirst
    Sound Mixing
  • Qiyun Zheng
    Dance Artist
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Queer, Drama
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 6 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 25, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    Chinese, English
  • Shooting Format:
    Unreal Engine,Digital,MoCap
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Royal College of Art
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Junjie Xu

Junjie (Dinggo) Xu is a visual designer and animation director from China, based in Shanghai and London. Dinggo’s artistic practice focuses on employing surreal imagery and 3D spatial techniques to elucidate the essence of contemporary human societal activities and the culture of the queer community.

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Director Statement

In this film, Dinggo delves into an exploration of his queer identity within the context of London, where the embrace of freedom paradoxically deepens the weight of secrecy held from his family. Drawing inspiration from "Giovanni's Room," Dinggo reflects on the nuances of concealing his queer self across diverse spaces, a thematic foundation of the project.

As the director, Dinggo leverages 3D software tools such as Unreal Engine to render childhood memories and surreal queer landscapes, creating a seamless blend between reality and imagination. Through a collaboration with Voguing artist Qiyun Zheng, they intertwine body artistry with queer phenomenology in a captivating ballroom performance situated within a vibrant queer garden.

Dinggo aims to present the conflicts and contradictions of queerness in his growth, providing an opportunity or a gift to confess everything to his parents in the future. This film serves as a visual journey that delves into the complexities of queer identity, offering a poignant contemplation on themes of concealment, revelation, and the fusion of art and expression within dinggo's queer narrative.