Experiencing Interruptions?

The Cycle of Being

In a post-reality world, AI guides a young monk, leading him to enlightenment through experiences of reincarnation from his past lives. Over centuries, he has been a slave in ancient Egypt and a knight in medieval Europe, witnessing scenes of suffering, desire, anger, and madness in his past lives. Despite the continuous development of civilization, the world of "all is suffering" remains unchanged. In a rich material world where machines become humans and humans become machines, what does it mean to exist as a human being? This work is about reincarnation and eternity, fragile flesh, and immortal machines.

  • Yunpeng Xiao
    Director
  • Yunpeng Xiao
    Writer
  • Yunpeng Xiao
    Producer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    存在の輪廻
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Short, Student, Other
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, AI Film
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 11 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 11, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    100 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    China
  • Country of Filming:
    Japan
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, AI generative film
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - The University of Tokyo
Director Biography - Yunpeng Xiao

Xiao Yunpeng is a film editor, director, and candid photographer based in Tokyo. He is currently a research student at The University of Tokyo, experimenting with AI storytelling.

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Director Statement

In the Buddhist worldview, reincarnation is a perpetual cycle of suffering. Civilizations rise and fall, and the roles of victim and perpetrator constantly interchange, but the unchanging element is the ceaseless suffering of consciousness across different times and spaces. This work aims to explore the definition of human existence in an era that will be dominated by machinery and material abundance.
Through the medium of AI-generated film, I hope to present not just a story, but an entire world—a grammar unique to AI-generated art. Therefore, all the images and sound materials in this work are generated by AI. This work was originally made in 72 hours.