— There are dead bodies buried under the cherry trees! by Motojirō Kajii
Main Title Sequence: Under the Cherry Trees
Project Overview:
This piece was inspired by a poem called “Under the Cherry Trees” written by a Japanese writer/poet, Motojirō Kajii, who died of TB at the age of 31.
Ideation & Execution:
Given Kajii’s brief life, I interpret the poem as a reflection of his personal encounter with mortality and the transience of life, which is deeply embraced in Japanese culture.
The cynical nature of life, as well as the natural process of decay and transformation, are represented in the images as they are depicted in the poem.
This poem has a distinctive feeling of eeriness to it. So I added extra elements to the designs in order to create an atmosphere of horror that compliments the mood of the poem.
If you are interested, the English translation of the poem is available online: Under the Cherry Trees
Test frame
Design Process (PSD &AE)
I aimed to depict the circle of life portrayed in the poem, incorporating my personal interpretation. Here is a rough breakdown of the meaning behind each frame:
The pregnant woman in a kimono intentionally blends with the fox face, symbolising the Shinto god 'Inari,' representing the essence of life. The shrine, a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing in spring, adds cultural context.
The image of a tree is manipulated to resemble spider-like roots, evoking a sense of life being drained from its prey.
Falling baby embryos symbolise life itself, while subtle blood cherry blossom roots in the background texture hint at the extraction of blood from buried bodies.
Hands reaching out to catch a baby symbolises the human desire to live
A cell micrograph represents the decomposition of bodies.
Full bloom cherry blossom trees with blood-like liquid flowing suggest that the source of their vibrant colour is derived from deceased bodies."