Pomelo - An Outstanding Student Short by Eric Zhu

This is a very impressive animated short by Eric Zhu who created it while on the Intro to Animation course at Tisch School of the Arts (New York Universities renowned arts and performance school) in 2025.  It tells the story of two children from  very different backgrounds who meet during a time of intense warfare.  Each child has been separated from their parents, so the two set out to find them.

I struggled a little to place the conflict at first, because the children have been given such European sounding names (and American voices).  However, looking closely, I think it is set during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945).  The main giveaway was the downed Japanese Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighter that the children come across, easily recognisable by its round red Hinomaru insignia on the wings and fuselage. The Zero was Japan’s primary carrier-based fighter in World War II and was widely used in the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) and throughout the Pacific theatre.   The next clue was the uniform of the soldiers that the children encounter - the soldiers are wearing khaki uniforms with round helmets featuring a star, typical of the Chinese National Revolutionary Army during the 1930s–1940s.  

Finally, the town that the children walk through has a tattered flag hanging from one of the houses (above), a red field with a blue canton and white sun. Before the Communist Party took over mainland China in 1949, the Republic of China (ROC) was the official government of China and this was its flag (since 1912, after the fall of the Qing Dynasty). It is now known as the Taiwanese flag because the ROC government relocated to Taiwan after losing control of the mainland.

The kids are essentially stick figures, their simple forms emphasising their fragility and vulnerability. In contrast, the backgrounds are stunning - almost Ghibli-like in their richness and detail. Zhu’s choice to use two very different styles is significant, even if it is unusual, as it creates a striking visual and emotional contrast. It is as if the children are not quite part of this greater world of warfare, but exist as more innocent, delicate presences within it. Yet the difference between the two isn’t jarring; rather, they complement each other beautifully (and this “experiment” could have failed very easily). The simplicity of the characters draws attention to the intricate, albeit horrific, world around them, while the lush, detailed environments make the children’s vulnerability all the more poignant, creating a harmonious balance that is both visually striking and emotionally resonant.

The film’s title, Pomelo, works as a quiet, symbolic metaphor. Like the fruit which is associated with home and everyday life, it evokes innocence, comfort, and safety. This contrasts with the film’s world of violence and disruption, suggesting the delicate presence of childhood and normalcy amidst trauma and fear.

Watch Pomelo below: