The Legend of the Starlight Beetle
2024 · 7m
Directed by Mabel Ryu
Genres: adventure, animation, fantasy
Tones: contemplative, tender, whimsical
In a post-apocalyptic world where insects grew big, Bluebell revisits places from her past to collect fireflies in search of her friend Willow.
Picked by Zoe
The scouts
It's a post-apocalyptic bug-world that could've been pure spectacle, but Ryu commits to something weirder—treating giant insects as backdrop for genuine grief, which is the opposite move most filmmakers would make.
The film demonstrates assured spatial composition and a disciplined color palette that recalls Studio Ghibli's restraint; the animation choices feel considered within a clear formal tradition rather than self-consciously experimental.
The decision to hold on Bluebell's face during moments of remembrance—letting the animation rest on micro-expressions rather than environmental grandeur—is what transforms this from a concept into something that actually breaks your heart.