Doo (2022)
The Origin of Doo’s Story
On June 16, 2013, I met Doo– the rabbit that changed the course of my life– at the shelter of the Hainan Small Animal Protection Association. When I saw Doo, he was in a heart-rending critical condition: his hind legs were badly injured, and a piece of his right ear was cut off. Without reservation, I decided to adopt and give him the love he deserved. However, since I had just started working and paying off my student loan, I turned to the internet for help.
Doo received a lot of media attention, and many kind-hearted people sent their warm encouragement and material help. To raise money for Doo’s medical treatment, I painted postcards to sell. Since then, I had been rescuing and helping rabbits, cats, and dogs. However, it put huge pressure on my finances, and I started to realize that rescuing animals alone is not the key to ending animal abandonment and cruelty; it is raising people’s awareness and educating them about animals’ value and rights.
My focus was then shifted to creating articles, illustrations, comics, and children’s picture books based on my rescue experiences while emphasizing the distressing condition of the animals. In 2014, my partner and I participated in Hainan Entrepreneurship Competition and won the championship. That boosted my confidence and fueled my aspiration to give a voice to animals. I then decided to quit my job at a TV station in the same year to focus on my mission and run an online shop called Doo’s Candy House, in which rabbit snacks, accessories, and essentials I make are sold. To gain more followers on my social media accounts, and get more people to hear my message and appeal, I tried different kinds of paintings and drawings. This also helped me understand the most appealing style to the public. In 2015, a very fortunate thing happened: Doo and I got invited and interviewed by Economic 30 min, CCTV Channel.
On November 2016, my precious daughter was born, and I had another epiphany: children– our next generation– are the best age group who should learn the concept of loving every life form on Earth, and animation is the perfect vehicle for that purpose. With the influence of traditional Chinese culture and Buddhism, the character of Doo, which had been vaguely springing to my mind, started to form shapes and colors. After three years of attempts, the major characters of my future animation such as Doo and Chang’e were finally designed. The next step will be making a series about them. It has been ten years since Doo’s Candy House was launched; now, it has eight hardworking employees and over 100 innovative snacks and rabbit-themed culture-related ornaments and products. In the future, my most important plan and mission are to spread the culture of Love, Gratitude, and Respect for Life. On January 24, 2022, Doo left me forever. I did save him and loved him like a family, but little did he know his existence taught me about respect and gratitude for life. In his memory, I hope to create a wonderful story about love: a story that will promote love for animals which will be passed on to children.
The Concept of Doo
Doo is the first rabbit I rescued. He is the protagonist of Doo’s story series and the spreader of the concept of love, gratitude, and respect for life. In his previous life, he was the rabbit god of medicine, a character inspired by the legend of the Moon Palace. When he passes away, he gets reincarnated as a common rabbit on Earth where he suffers abuse. Coincidentally, he meets a swan fairy named Chang’e that took him back to the Moon Palace. He is given a new identity and a heavenly mission which is to educate and guide people, especially children, on the path of goodness. Doo’s look is inspired by the real Doo and the Styles of Ancient Chinese Literati and Doctors.
The concept of Chang’e
Chang’e is the owner of the Moon Palace, a swan fairy with divine powers. In the story, she will meet Doo, an abandoned rabbit, while traveling on Earth. To save him, she will bring Doo back to the Moon Palace. Later, Chang’e will assign a mission to Doo. A mission that will save animals’ lives and change people’s attitudes toward them. Chang’e is inspired by an ancient Chinese myth about a fairy living on the moon. However, unlike the traditional Chang’e, my Chang’e can change between a swan and a fairy since the pronunciation of the letter “e” in Chinese Mandarin is similar to a swan. While her fairy’s outward form is inspired by my daughter’s plump face when she was 2-3 years old. Chang’e’s costume references: Dunhuang fresco characters called Feitian, Thangka Buddha, and Tang Dynasty ladies.
The Concept of Toad
Toad is a three-legged character who is in charge of the protection of the pillbox containing five gems in 5 different colors. The gems are magical stones that can eliminate people’s obsessions with particular things. Later, he will become Doo’s important assistant. Toad is inspired by the three-legged toad in the long-running ancient Chinese story called Moon Palace.
The Concept of Meng-po
Meng-po is inspired by the Lady of Forgetfulness in Chinese mythology. She is the guide that all beings meet in a visionary world after death. Her main task is to ensure that all souls will drink ‘the soup of oblivion, the soup that will erase the souls’ memory before their reincarnation. Meng-po is a kind partial old woman who patiently provides souls with guidance and assistance.