If You Were Me: Anima Vision 2

This film features six animated shorts produced by the Human Rights Commission of Korea. Like its predecessor, the stories explore the world through the perspectives of those who exist outside social norms. The film was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards. 1. "The Third Wish" (AN Dong-hui, RYU Jeong-wu) follows a visually impaired young woman who meets a fairy godmother offering three wishes. However, this fairy is no kind enchantress-she’s a grumpy middle-aged woman eager to finish her task. Still, she helps the woman navigate a bustling marketplace, evoking the charm of "Amelie." The journey isn’t easy, as the city’s indifferent crowds create obstacles. Yet the woman perseveres, tapping her walking stick along the "yellow brick road"-the textured guide tiles-while wearing her new shoes. 2. "Ajukari" (HONG Deok-pyo) is a street-style cartoon humorously exposing how toxic masculinity can trap men. Here, circumcision is treated as the ultimate measure of manhood, leaving those who haven’t undergone the procedure terrified of public baths. 3. "Baby" (LEE Hong-su, LEE Hong-min) highlights the struggles of a career woman balancing work and motherhood. Her boss dismissively asks, "I’m not saying you can’t take maternity leave, but can you afford a child while working?" The story weaves in family tensions, a parody of "Tazza: The High Rollers," and absurd moments like an "ambulance bus" collecting multiple patients at once. 4. "Shine Shine Shining" (KWON Mi-jeong) has the gentle look of a watercolor children’s book. Eun-jin, a bright and popular grade-schooler, hides her curly hair-inherited from her Filipino mother-in tight braids to keep her secret safe. 5. "Merry Golasmas" is a charming claymation short about physical stereotypes. In a Santa Claus audition, the real Santas-a Black man, an Asian man, a woman, and one in a wheelchair-lose to a fake Santa: a pot-bellied white man. 6. "Lies" delves into the pressures faced by gay men through pastel-like sketches with art deco touches. One man is forced into marriage with a woman, while others pretend to have girlfriends or undergo "therapy" to "fix" their sexuality. The animation’s striking digital cut-out style heightens the emotional weight of their stories.