
A Gum Boy
くちゃお
Kuchao is a primary schoolboy who is widely disliked by his classmates. During a school event where everyone releases balloons into the sky, he stubbornly holds onto his, refusing to let it go. After school, he begins to chew bubble gum, and this simple act transports him into a vivid world of imagination.
In this fantastical realm, his balloon takes on a face and starts chewing bubble gum itself, transforming into a variety of shapes and objects. As his imagination accelerates, the balloon changes more rapidly, taking on increasingly bizarre and creative forms. A bird approaches while flying, and Kuchao's imaginary world expands further, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. Each transformation reflects his inner thoughts and emotions, offering an escape from the loneliness and rejection he faces in his daily life.