Private Project

The Human Fossil

"The Human Fossil” is an animated short film about alien archaeologist Soo’s mesmerizing encounter with the relics of human civilization. While the film opens with funny and lighthearted punchlines, it eventually lands with an emotional last scene and prompts the following questions: How will we look back on our present when it becomes history; what will be left of humanity, and how do we want to be remembered?

  • Rebecca Huang
    Director
  • Rebecca Huang
    Writer
  • JANNI
    Producer
  • Juan Cortes
    Music
  • Sam Fan
    Sound Design
  • Project Type:
    Animation
  • Genres:
    Drama, Sci-fi, fantasy
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes 10 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 8, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - School of Visual Arts
Director Biography - Rebecca Huang

Rebecca Huang is an animation director and story artist based in New York City. In 2024, she graduated with an MFA in Computer Arts from the School of Visual Arts (SVA). Before pursuing her creative career full-time, she worked in sales and marketing strategies at Google for three years. While this experience trained her business acumen, it also made her realize how much she longed to draw, create and tell stories. Therefore, she began freelancing for various production companies. She worked with Baboon Animation in New York on the concept and character design for the preschool series Bek and the Bunnies. In 2020, she collaborated with Japanese studio Griot Groove to write the first season of a 12-episode anime series, The Deep Hunter.

Rebecca has studied and worked in Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai and New York. In her work, she constantly finds herself musing upon the common human experience that transcends race, nationality, social and political structures.

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Director Statement

My art practice is characterized by a desire to reveal meaning beyond the mundane every day - I capture the struggle, the confusion and the muse of humans in their attempt to comprehend life and the world around us. I make films that can give spaces for such contemplations and reflections to occur, while staying morally ambiguous.

My filmmaking is strongly based in 2D hand-drawn character animation, a practice that I relish for its versatility and expressiveness. I also enjoy experimenting with novel visuals and production pipelines, not afraid to introduce elements of 3D modeling, motion graphics, and live action. I am narrative and character-driven, specializing in storytelling and cinematography language.

I take pride in my mixed background, which fuels my desire to create and tell stories. Having studied sociology and worked in tech sales before committing to animation filmmaking full time, I observed first-hand the worrying trends in the business world, such as the environmental impact of consumerism and the growing disparity of wealth. I am using my art as a means of both self-expression and resistance. Beyond my own experience, I also draw inspiration from a variety of sources such as indie animated movies, existentialist literature, social science research, and national geographic articles.

My storytelling philosophy is to “hide a heart inside a fart.” Despite the big existential and philosophical topics I hope to tackle in my work, I try to package them inside lighthearted jokes and slices of life anecdotes.