The Joy Luck Club

Category:
Motion Design, Title Sequence Design

Instructor:
Miguel Lee

The Joy Luck Club is a poignant exploration of cultural identity, generational conflict, and the immigrant experience, told through the intertwined lives of four Chinese-American families. My concept centers on mahjong as a symbolic thread, reflecting the novel’s themes of connection, strategy, and fate.

My concept employs mahjong as a central metaphor throughout the piece. As a traditional Chinese game prominently featured in the film, mahjong serves as a unifying element to connect and underscore the intricate mother-daughter relationships depicted in the story.

The initial single mahjong tile represents individual Chinese mothers. As the tiles connect and extend, they symbolize the mothers’ journey to the U.S. When the tiles begin stacking,it signifies them building new lives and settling down with their families in America. These stacked tiles form a tunnel, through which a single mahjong tile moves, symbolizing the birth and growth of their daughters. The flickering light and the surrounding tiles hint at the daughters’ struggles with her mother and her identity. In the end, as the tile exits the tunnel, she reconciles with her mother and finds her sense of belonging. The tiles return to the table, fully revealing the film’s title.

In the initial concept, since this is a title sequence, I wanted to avoid directly depicting the film’s plot. Instead, I chose an abstract approach to subtly convey the story while setting the tone for the audience. Since mahjong is a central element in the film, I explored ways to use its movement to illustrate the dramatic conflict, creating a more nuanced and immersive narrative.

Peilin Li