“Tears are soft fountain, when my tears flow, may add some moisture to the world.” Acts as the official synopsis for the two minute showcase of the art and animation of Lee Chao Ming. Bursting forth in pastels, the film loosely follows the journey of a girl and her cat as their sorrow helps breed empathy to carry out good deeds to help brighten the world of others.
“Moist” is Screening at Cartoons Underground
Pretty in pastel, “Moist” conveys the modern aesthetic of cute and reflective art dominated by the color pallet. While the short is brief, it manages to capture the charm of the form that normally reflects meditative or wondrous moments. Consequently, the it captures the ‘lo-fi’ musical movement which has become prominent on YouTube (thanks to channels such as Chilled Cow) that will use serene imagery to accompany the simple, relaxing beats. It is easy to imagine little moments within “Moist” being looped to capture the ambiance the genre thrives in.
However, to say that the animation only has merit in playing towards other forms of media would be doing a disservice. “Moist” puts forward a rather heartwarming narrative, driven by a more classical score, that speaks to a renewed energy in overcoming hardship. Though the main narrative may be born from the subjects sadness, the film quickly warps into a warm and comforting experience, reflective of the colors used.
“Moist” is undeniably pretty with a wondrous flow that is bound to pull audiences in. As a result, It is unlikely that audiences will take away nothing but warm and good vibes from the animation short
