Bon Odori is a 3D/2D animated short film that delves into the heart of Obon, a Japanese Buddhist festival that celebrates the memories of ancestors and loved ones who have passed away. The film's title, which translates to "Bon Dance," refers to the traditional folk dancing performed during the festival.
The story follows Kai, a young Japanese American boy struggling with the loss of his grandmother, and trying to navigate his first Obon without her.
Director Biography - Trent Osaki, Sally Thai
Trent Osaki is a Japanese-American storyboard artist from Pleasanton, California. He graduated from the San Jose State University Animation/Illustration program in 2023, and enjoys creating stories that share his culture as well as inspire others to explore their own creativity.
Sally Thai is a visual development artist striving to work in feature or TV animation. She loves spending her time painting outdoors, walking, and discovering new places to spend time with friends. Sally hopes for her curiosity of the world to come through her work with lighting and color.
- DirectorTrent Osaki, Sally Thai
- Executive ProducerTrent Osaki, Sally Thai
- CinematographerProduction Assistant: Farah Hussain; Story Lead: Trent Osaki; Story Artist: Hal Nguyen, Sally Thai; Visual Development Lead: Cherise Punzalan; Visual Development Artist: Jennifer Kwon, Sunny Liu, Shivangi Patel, Sally Thai, Elizabeth Yeung; Modeling Lead: Caitlyn Bui; 3D Modeler: Brian Dang, Clare Korten, Sneha Krishnan, Jennifer Kwon, Sunny Liu, Mar Mancini, Shivangi Patel, Elizabeth Yeung; Animation Lead: Fiona Rieta; 3D Animator: Amelia Conaghan, Adali Fuentes, Ethan Gray, Timn Lam, Hal Nguyen, Kevin Nguyen, Trent Osaki, Alex Ramelb, Cassie Tang; 2D Animator: Phoebe Chou, Maia Mallari, Ashley Hua, Frankie Vargas, Trent Osaki, Fiona Rieta; 2D Clean Up Artist: Cherise Punzalan, Sally Thai, Trent Osaki, Frankie Vargas, Jennifer Kwon, Elizabeth Yeung; Lighting Lead: Caitlyn Bui; Lighting Artist: Jennifer Kwon, Justin Leung, Sunny Liu, Shivangi Patel, Cherise Punzalan, Trent Osaki, Fiona Rieta, Sally Thai, Ellis Urquiaga, Giselle Yang, Elizabeth Yeung; Rendering and Compositing: Caitlyn Bui, Fiona Rieta, Trent Osaki, Frankie Vargas; Credits Sequence: Farah Hussain, Trent Osaki; Technical Director: Hal Nguyen; Composer: Victor Kong; Sound Designer: Zachary T. White; Faculty Advisor: Jeff Biancalana, Raquel Coelho, David Chai, Jeff Sangalli; Special Thanks: David Yee, Laura Swalley, Pamela Hoogeboom
Bon Odori is a 3D/2D animated short film that delves into the heart of Obon, a Japanese Buddhist festival that celebrates the memories of ancestors and loved ones who have passed away. The film's title, which translates to "Bon Dance," refers to the traditional folk dancing performed during the festival.
The story follows Kai, a young Japanese American boy struggling with the loss of his grandmother, and trying to navigate his first Obon without her.
Director Biography - Trent Osaki, Sally Thai
Trent Osaki is a Japanese-American storyboard artist from Pleasanton, California. He graduated from the San Jose State University Animation/Illustration program in 2023, and enjoys creating stories that share his culture as well as inspire others to explore their own creativity.
Sally Thai is a visual development artist striving to work in feature or TV animation. She loves spending her time painting outdoors, walking, and discovering new places to spend time with friends. Sally hopes for her curiosity of the world to come through her work with lighting and color.
- DirectorTrent Osaki, Sally Thai
- Executive ProducerTrent Osaki, Sally Thai
- CinematographerProduction Assistant: Farah Hussain; Story Lead: Trent Osaki; Story Artist: Hal Nguyen, Sally Thai; Visual Development Lead: Cherise Punzalan; Visual Development Artist: Jennifer Kwon, Sunny Liu, Shivangi Patel, Sally Thai, Elizabeth Yeung; Modeling Lead: Caitlyn Bui; 3D Modeler: Brian Dang, Clare Korten, Sneha Krishnan, Jennifer Kwon, Sunny Liu, Mar Mancini, Shivangi Patel, Elizabeth Yeung; Animation Lead: Fiona Rieta; 3D Animator: Amelia Conaghan, Adali Fuentes, Ethan Gray, Timn Lam, Hal Nguyen, Kevin Nguyen, Trent Osaki, Alex Ramelb, Cassie Tang; 2D Animator: Phoebe Chou, Maia Mallari, Ashley Hua, Frankie Vargas, Trent Osaki, Fiona Rieta; 2D Clean Up Artist: Cherise Punzalan, Sally Thai, Trent Osaki, Frankie Vargas, Jennifer Kwon, Elizabeth Yeung; Lighting Lead: Caitlyn Bui; Lighting Artist: Jennifer Kwon, Justin Leung, Sunny Liu, Shivangi Patel, Cherise Punzalan, Trent Osaki, Fiona Rieta, Sally Thai, Ellis Urquiaga, Giselle Yang, Elizabeth Yeung; Rendering and Compositing: Caitlyn Bui, Fiona Rieta, Trent Osaki, Frankie Vargas; Credits Sequence: Farah Hussain, Trent Osaki; Technical Director: Hal Nguyen; Composer: Victor Kong; Sound Designer: Zachary T. White; Faculty Advisor: Jeff Biancalana, Raquel Coelho, David Chai, Jeff Sangalli; Special Thanks: David Yee, Laura Swalley, Pamela Hoogeboom