Elm: Navigating a Dying World is a 2D animated short that explores the topic of loneliness and grief through the lens of nature. Like humans, trees are social beings. They grow and experience hardship in similar ways that we do. Both humans and trees get sick, both need sunlight and water, and both grow and adapt to their surroundings. These similarities help people to connect with nature through appreciation and sympathy. As global warming and other disasters like diseases often make it feel like the world is ending, it is important to take a moment to appreciate the good in nature around us on a daily basis.
Through Elm, I hope for people to find a connection to the world around them, and the next time they step outside, they might take more time to feel the sun on their faces and hear the breeze brush through the leaves. The story aims to inspire people to understand that despite hardship, life goes on. For every tree that is cut, a new one will sprout up.
