When the Light Fades is a 3D animated short film exploring the inevitability of death and the emotional journey that follows. The story centers on a grandmother lying on her deathbed, with her granddaughter Lin by her side. When Death—personified as a natural, elemental force—arrives to guide the grandmother's soul to the afterlife, Lin resists, desperately trying to prevent the inevitable. Her attempts are in vain. It is ultimately her grandmother who gently stops her, allowing Death to fulfill his role. In the end, Lin is left grieving, but she begins to take the first steps toward acceptance and healing.
Nathan Thor is a Hmong-American digital artist based in the Bay Area specializing in 3D and game development. His work focuses on creating immersive, fantastical experiences that transport the audience into complex worlds. His tools include Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Illustrator, Substance Painter, Zbrush, and Blender. Striving to blend the boundaries between fantasy and reality, he aspires for his audience to lose themselves in his worlds, even for just a moment.
