Project Animation Title: “The Waitress”

Logline:

A waitress’s shift at a restaurant turns into a nightmare when shadowy manifestations of her anxiety begin to consume her reality.

Artist Statement:

Social anxiety is a persistent fear that many people struggle with. This anxiety often spirals out of control, causing people to lose touch with reality. The short animated film, The Waitress focuses on the overwhelming weight of anxiety and how it can negatively affect a person. It leads to a distorted perception of the world around you, creating a conflict between what is real and what is imagined. People become trapped in their thoughts and believe that others are judging them, resulting in a feeling of being isolated in an endless struggle.

The narrative of The Waitress follows Bella, a waitress starting her shift, as she gradually becomes overwhelmed by the pressures of her job and the surroundings. As her anxieties build, she begins to experience a distorted perception of the world around her. She is consumed by an alternate reality inhabited by shadowy figures, their eyes fixed on Bella’s every move. Trapped in this torturous mental realm, she struggles to escape. However, with the support of another waitress, Bella finds the strength to break free from the grip of her anxiety and return to a state of clarity.

The visual design of The Waitress was inspired by a 2D animation by Laura Hodkin called Nailbiter, which uses exaggeration to depict social anxiety. Another influence is The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, known for its unsettling facial expressions and eerie environments. The Waitress relies heavily on character expression and body language to communicate the story and the characters’ struggles. This ongoing animation portrays the suffocating effects of social anxiety and shows that clarity is possible even in the darkest moments with the help of others.