“Cover your face. Stay at least 6 feet away.” These are the slogans of the COVID-19 Pandemic that we should all be familiar with. It has changed our daily lives and social norms almost overnight. Going to work, school and church unprotected is now considered risky, or even, life-threatening.  I have hope that all our routines will return to normal soon, but before this crisis passed, I wanted to capture all the hardships and concerns in an animated film.  

This short film was an experiment for me, I wanted the chance to use 2D and 3D animation software. Although many animated films blend or make use of both methods, until now, I practiced them separately. It was very challenging working between multiple programs but by doing so my knowledge of their functions expanded. Building a story was another hurdle; many devastating events have occurred during the pandemic, I had to choose the greatest issue at the time I started. As hospitals struggled with having enough staff to care for patients, surrounding businesses were restricted or closed to ensure the health of employees and customers. More pressure was added to the situation when nurses and doctors feared their exposure would be lethal as many of them were infected and died. Restaurants were greatly affected; their dining rooms could only be filled by a fraction of their normal capacity.  

With the ever-increasing death toll, isolation and job loss, we have found little comfort. Social distancing been difficult accommodate at times, but as human beings we can always find opportunities to stay connected. We call, write and we hold Zoom meetings just to have a few minutes with loved ones. Standing on either side of glass doors and windows is another trend families and friends have used to visit each other safely. Now that vaccines are being distributed and we will soon resume all activities, I think will miss that gesture the most. Showing others care without physical contact yet sustaining all the emotion is as meaningful as a long embrace.