Pronoia
Pronoia is a poignant, pixel-art & sci-fi animated short film that follows the tragic story of two gender-neutral characters falling in love and navigating the unsettling suspicion of serendipity. In their enchanting creative partnership, director/animator Shawn Chiki and cellist/composer Michael Peter Olsen communicate their shared experiences of self-doubt and doubting fortune's kindness. The meticulously crafted visual journey weaves seamlessly with Olsen's emotionally charged soundtrack, exploring the paradoxical mistrust of good things happening, and the tragedy of being unable to accept happiness.
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Shawn ChikiDirector
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Shawn ChikiWriter
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Michael Peter OlsenProducer
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Michael Peter OlsenMusic/Score
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Project Type:Animation, Experimental, Music Video, Short
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Genres:Pixel Art, Sci-fi, tragedy, love story
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Runtime:3 minutes 33 seconds
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Completion Date:June 13, 2023
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Production Budget:1,000 USD
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Country of Origin:Canada
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Country of Filming:Canada
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Shooting Format:Pixel Art
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Aspect Ratio:4:3
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
Shawn Chiki is a multimedia artist known for consistently pushing creative boundaries through their experimental films, music, and architectural designs.
With a career spanning over 15 years, Chiki's portfolio is as diverse as it is innovative, showcasing their unique approach to technology. Their recent venture into pixel art animation, "PRONOIA," marks another milestone in their artistic journey, demonstrating their unending commitment to creative evolution. Always ready to embrace the unexplored, their body of work is characterized by an unbound energy that continuously strives to redefine human expression in an ever-evolving world.
When Michael Peter Olsen approached me with a desire to create a visual accompaniment for his song, my initial imagination was filled with a 3D comedy where a character wins at everything, even when they try to lose. However, as we delved deeper into different interpretations of the word 'Pronoia', we found a shared experience rooted in self-doubt, where scars from past trauma prevent us from accepting good things and living in the moment. We realized that we've both had to learn an important lesson: it is OK to be happy.
While developing the narrative and animating "PRONOIA," I was also in the midst of planning my wedding. This period of my life was a whirlwind of profound joy and anxiety. The better life felt as I fell deeply in love with my partner, the more I was afraid of losing her, or everything. I decided to channel these emotions into the core of the story, crafting a narrative that mirrored my fear in learning to accept happiness when it was right in front of me. I've felt like my rewarding new career in teaching and the joys I share with my partner were all too good to last, that I didn't deserve it.
The underlying theme of "PRONOIA" explores a struggle that many of us face — the difficulty of accepting and expecting good things, the fear that something so beautiful can't possibly endure. This paradox, fueled by our turbulent times, media exposure, and past traumas, informs the narratives we all tell ourselves.
"PRONOIA" is not just an exploration of fear — it is also a celebration of happiness and the beautiful moments we experience in life. I strongly believe that by fearing and expecting negativity, we might inadvertently manifest it. Therefore, I wanted the film to serve as a reminder to audiences to embrace and appreciate their happiness, recognizing it as a vital part of our existence.
Creating "PRONOIA" was a monumental task, involving over 108 million pixels. The project took longer than I had planned, but once it was in motion, the message we sought to convey felt too important and real to give up on. It's our hope that "PRONOIA" serves as a reminder — that it's more than OK to be happy.