Spliced.mp4

In 2019, the first human child was genetically modified to be resistant to HIV. But even
though humanity can manipulate DNA, that does not necessarily mean it should be done. There are especially concerns with what other applications humans might apply genetic engineering for: In Spliced, the main topic that this short film addresses is beauty, and how gene-editing
might be used to achieve that ideal. The story itself involves the existence of an alternate
reality where a couple selects how they want their child to appear, but at a cost.
Regarding beauty, there is always some ideal in place, even if it may be different for different cultures and different for different time periods. Karolina Żebrowska, a popular YouTuber and fashion historian, has described whatever beauty trends there are as concepts that are subject to change rapidly, seeming rather relative and inane. Spliced portrays what can go wrong if people all clamor to make children that fit such an arbitrary beauty standard. The short film also took inspiration from The Wonder Hospital, which similarly addressed concerns over how many can become disillusioned in pursuing beauty. Much inspiration was taken from the short film’s approach to portraying the clinical setting as well, creating an ominous, eerie environment for the character to navigate. Regarding the concerns over rapidly expanding developments in understanding and manipulating DNA—and the negative impacts it may have on society—much of this short film drew on the precedents established by Gattaca, directed by Andrew Niccol.
The colors and style of Spliced were intended to transform from bright and cheerful to
more melodramatic and impersonal, filled with the blues commonly found in many scientific
illustrations. The audio follows a similar trend, originating with cheery birdcalls, to transitioning to what is at times sharp creaks and at other times uncomfortable stillness. Characters were intentionally designed to not delineate any specific race/nationality, but to generally represent individuals whose distinct appearance and traits are lost, not reflected in the child that they have had engineered. The more minimal animation style using After Effects permits smaller movements of the characters in at times unnatural ways, such as the scene where the child is blinking. Such an animation, paired with the stylized illustrations, adds to the unsettling sensation of the film.