Cartoon of six people riding a tandem bicycle against a yellow sky with clouds. The person at the front is holding a large red circle resembling a sun. The individuals are dressed in different colored outfits, each numbered from one to six, with matching shoes.

The Lord of Thousand Suns

Film concept and development

Fantasy, Roadfilm

Adults, Young adults

2D computer

8-10 minutes

Genre:

Target Audience:

Technique:

Estimated Running Time:

In a quiet world of hills and rhythm, six pilgrims move toward something divine, and uncover something deeply human.

Logline:

The Lord of Thousand Suns unfolds the journey of six pilgrims on their way to find their god, The mysterious Lord of Thousand Suns.

It is based on a text that I wrote, inspired by folk tales and shaped by the rhythmic repetition found in oral storytelling traditions.

The six move as one, but when their path begins to unravel, will their unity hold?

The film was developed during the Playgrounds NEXT trajectory and during the H-AIR residency at the Hiroshima animation festival.

“Six people follow a path through the trees.
Vroom vroom vroom.

Number One, Number Two, Number Three, Number Four, Number Five, and Number Six.

On their feet - red shoes. Number One leads, carrying a red circle.
Vroom vroom.”

Concept Art

A cartoon illustration of six stylized people riding a vintage, tandem bicycle in a single file line, holding hands. The background shows a blue sky with separated, fluffy white clouds and a large red sun. The people are dressed in black clothing with white, gray, and yellow numbers on their shirts, and they are wearing red shoes.
A colorful illustration of seven people sitting on a red and gray checkered boat, holding striped paddles, with a large red sun, green hills, and cloudy sky in the background.
Illustration of a group of people walking in a line, each person wearing clothing with numbers and red shoes, carrying a large red ball, with stylized clouds and downward-pointing arrows in the background.
Drawing of six people in a checkered boat on blue water, each holding a striped oar; the boat's side is checkered, and a red circle is at the front. The people are depicted with numbers on their bodies.

The six

Drawing on paper, 2D computer

Line drawing of six cyclists riding a tandem bicycle, with their bodies filled with different numbers from 1 to 6, from left to right.
A drawing of six women holding hands, each wearing a dress with a number pattern: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and red shoes. The women are arranged in a line and their heads are featureless.
A line drawing of six sheep, each with their heads down, passing a clock to the next. The sheep have numbers on their bodies, suggesting a sequencing or counting theme. The first sheep has a clock showing the time 11:00. The background is plain white, and the sheep are wearing red shoes.
A drawing of six people walking in a line, their bodies are drawn with as numbers, and their heads are simple line drawings with minimal facial features. They are wearing red shoes, and their legs are overlapping and connected to form a continuous walk.
Drawing of six people with elongated legs, each wearing a dress with numbers from 1 to 6, holding hands, and wearing red shoes. The dress patterns are made of repeated numbers matching their clothing.

Typewriter works

An illustrated graph with Chinese characters, numbers, and symbols, featuring a drawing of a vase with red, yellow, and blue patterns at the top, and several circular patterned areas at the bottom resembling a sunset or sunrise scene.

The six

sketches

Style Tests

Poster - H-AIR residency

Illustration for the film 'The Lord of Thousand Suns' featuring a central mountain with a red sun, surrounded by blue sky, clouds, and people with large blue faces and polka-dot clothing, along with fishing and mythical creatures.

Sketches style frames

Drawing of five people kneeling on the ground, bowing with their heads on the earth, in a line, with mountains in the background.
A surreal illustration of five humanoid figures skating on a tightrope, each wearing coats made of numbers from 1 to 6. Above, a circular makeup mirror with a women's face is floating against a yellow sky, and colorful mountains are in the foreground.
A digital drawing depicting four identical men walking in unison up a dark, textured incline towards a black tunnel on the left, with two gray stones in the foreground and two human-like ghosts near the top right of the hill.
Colorful abstract drawing with geometric shapes and lines, titled "Lord of the Thousand Suns" at the bottom.

The Lord, sketches

Drawing on paper

Video:

A hand-drawn abstract geometric pattern with various irregular polygons and straight lines, enclosed within a square border.

References and Inspirations

Characters

Characters are united in their design - their height and volume are similar. What differentiate them from one another are the faces and numbers on the shirt.

A group of men in military uniforms marching in formation, wearing sunglasses and pointed hats, with medals on their chests.

Leningrad Cowboys Go America

Drawing of people with white faces and big smiles, dressed in blue bow ties, standing on a black surface inside an elevator with orange dotted walls.

Choir Tour

A woman standing on a stage addressing a large audience of women, all wearing straw hats and similar clothing, some sitting and some standing.

Small People with Hats

World

The world - simple shapes, limited color palette

A painting of a black cat with a curved tail sitting on a gray table next to a white cup with handles, painted in a minimalist style.

Klaas Gubbels

A painting of a person walking outside on a striped pathway, with trees and textured background.

Geran Knol