Overthinking Tea

A girl has a problem with overthinking. Until one day, elves appear in her brain
and use her overthinking to make a cup of milk tea…

Poster of Overthinking Tea
Poster of Overthinking Tea

Concept

The story is inspired by my own experience of always being overwhelmed with overthinking. The project is an animated short made in After Effects and Cinema 4D. The style will be bright, lively, and magical. Through this project, I want to turn my negative experience of overthinking into a blessing, and convey that overthinking is not always a bad thing, because all the things I saw, heard, felt, and experienced have become my precious inspiration, helping me create more and more good work.

Full Film of Overthinking Tea

Credit

Director / Scarlett Chen
Design & Animation / Scarlett Chen
Sound & Music Service / Icing Media – Delu Duan

Awards

California International Shorts Festival 2023 – Best Animated Short
Los Angeles Animation Festival 2023 – Best Student Motion Design
Around International Film Festival Barcelona 2023 – Best Animation
Paradise Film Festival 2023 – Best Animation
Golden Short Film Festival 2023 – Golden Animated Short Winner
Santa Barbara Indie Film Fest 2023 – Award of Excellence
Changing Face International Film Festival 2023 – Honourable Mention
International Student Animation Film Festival Animafantasia 2023 – Finalist
Lift-Off First-Time Filmmaker Sessions 2023 – Finalist
AniMate Australia Animation Film Festival 2024 –  Semi-Finalist
The Madavera Expojour JazzTimes Film Festival 2023
The Series Web Awards 2023
Short Shot Fest 2023
Anilogue Film Festival 2023
Kixta Fest 2023
FIA Fest Festival 2024
ADAF Athens Digital Arts Festival 2024
Voronezh International Animation Filmfestival 2024
Santa Barbara Indie Film Fest 2024
Biennial of Animation Bratislava 2024

Top Indie Film Awards 2024
Winner – Best Animated Short, Best Sound
Nominee – Best Director, Best Original Idea, Best Music

Background & Inspiration

Every time I go to bed and close my eyes, my mind becomes energized, replaying every word I’ve said and every event in my life. The harder I try to stop, the more persistent these memories become. As new ideas form, I often get up—whether it’s 3 or 4 a.m.—to write them down.

This is the essence of my life. As a highly sensitive person (HSPs), I deeply process everything, often feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. I used to see it as a burden, thinking it kept me from real joy. That changed after reading Ilse Sand’s Highly Sensitive People in an Insensitive World, where I learned to appreciate my sensitivity as a gift.

Highly sensitive people have a finely tuned nervous system, reacting deeply to external stimuli. While it can be challenging, it also opens up infinite possibilities. Everything I experience triggers ideas that enrich my imagination, helping me reach my potential. Despite the difficulties, I’ve come to see my sensitivity as fascinating and something to be grateful for. This animation aims to convey that realization playfully.


Characters

Styleframes

Animation