Behind the mask

Abstract

Shyness and social anxiety are conditions that are prevalent in our society. While their severity varies for individuals, these social phobias deserve attention.

Behind the Mask is a short animated film that aims to highlight this unseen condition and act as a bridge between those who suffer from it, and those who do not understand it. It narrates a fantastical tale about a little girl with horns who feels isolated and haunted by enigmatic masked figures. Inspired by the masked claustrophobic crowds of the nineteenth-century Belgian artist James Ensor and the fantastical world of Hayao Miyazaki, this film presents a surreal journey that culminates in an ambiguous revelation.