Our Little Pond

Set in a surreal underwater world, Our Little Pond follows a protagonist who stands apart from everyone else as the only inhabitant unable to survive without an oxygen tank. While the surrounding environment is natural for the others, it represents a constant struggle for this isolated individual, who must rely on life support just to exist in a place that feels increasingly suffocating with each passing moment. Despite the overwhelming physical and emotional pressure, the protagonist remains deeply committed to preserving peace and harmony within their social circle. To maintain this fragile balance, they carefully mask their true feelings, pretending not to be bothered by the selfish behavior of one particular girl or the heavy burdens carried by friends navigating complicated family backgrounds. This quiet endurance becomes a daily act of survival, as the protagonist swallows their discomfort to keep the group united beneath the surface. Our Little Pond is a 2021 graduate work produced at the Tokyo University of the Arts, Graduate School of Film and New Media, Department of Animation.