I recently found myself reflecting on an animated independent short film I watched nearly 15 years ago. I can still recall it vividly—its visuals, its music, and, most powerfully, its emotional impact. Determined to find it again, I dove into a long online search. Finally, I did: Thought of You by Ryan Woodward. It was well worth the effort. Rewatching it reminded me of how deeply creative work can resonate with people, leaving a lasting mark.

The film is a beautifully crafted 2D animation featuring a couple dancing in a fluid, gesture-drawing style. Their movements capture a push-and-pull dynamic—at times close, then drifting apart, mirroring the emotional struggle of love and loss. The animation is set to World Spins Madly On by The Weepies, a song that tells the story of losing someone you love.

This is a story we all face at some point in life—the pain of losing someone, whether through death or by their own choice to walk away for reasons that may seem trivial or unknown. In the depths of grief, the world keeps turning, indifferent to the weight of your sorrow, leaving you feeling frozen while everything moves on. The song and animation capture this experience in a way that’s open to interpretation, and I encourage you to give it a watch:

Thought of You – by Ryan Woodward (2010, YouTube@RyanWoodwardart)

When I first watched this film, its release aligned with a pivotal moment in my life. It helped me process emotions I wasn’t even fully aware of at the time. The animation is both breathtaking and heartbreaking—just like life itself. Joy and sorrow often coexist, colliding in memories of what once was and what is now missing.

At first glance, the frame-by-frame animation appears simple, just loose sketches in motion. But beneath that simplicity lies something profound. It tricks you into thinking life is as straightforward as these line drawings. But, of course, life is anything but simple. It’s deeply complex.

What strikes me the most is how deeply this short, three-minute film embedded itself in my memory. All these years later, I can still recall it as if I had just seen it yesterday. Watching it again, I am transported back to that first viewing, where I unknowingly projected my own story onto it, making it personal.

—This is art. This is what creativity can do.

The Emotional Connection Between Art and Life

Creative work has the power to connect with people on a deeply emotional level. It can heal, inspire, and make sense of the things we struggle to articulate. Yet, so many people hesitate to embrace their creativity—to allow their ideas to flow freely.

If you’re interested, I highly recommend also watching this behind-the-scenes video, where the artist shares his creative process. You’ll see how he immersed himself in the flow of his creativity, never resisting the ideas that came to him. He even admits that he becomes miserable when he doesn’t have an outlet for his creativity. —I can totally relate! Can you?

The most powerful creative works—whether an ad, a film, a design, or a song—connect with the audience on an emotional level.

• Think about the brands you’re drawn to. It’s an emotional connection.
• Consider the products you buy. They don’t just solve external problems; they fulfill an internal need. It’s an emotional connection.
• Look at the songs you put on repeat. It’s an emotional connection.

I’ve worked on projects that felt effortless, not because they were easy but because they needed to be created. These weren’t client projects; they were personal. They were driven by an idea that wouldn’t let me rest until I brought it to life—like the time I entered a music video contest. The piece I created wasn’t about telling my story directly outright but about crafting something others could interpret through their own lens as well. I’m not a filmmaker by any means, but I didn’t let that stop me from fulfilling my internal calling to create this work, and the many other project experiences just like this one. I wish this type of personal project experience for you, one where you simply let your creativity flow to wherever it takes you.

Stop Hesitating. Create That Thing.

So here’s my message to you:

Give yourself permission to create. Not for a client, not for an audience, but for you. If something inside you is calling to be made, don’t silence it. Like this short animation from many years ago, it just might impact someone in ways you never expected.

What creative work is calling to you?