五元有緣 Wooyuan_Meant to Be

Inspired by the deep bond with my late dog Wooyuan, this animation tells the story of her journey to the afterlife—where souls choose their next life. Through warmth and wonder, it imagines a beloved pet returning as a child, guided by love and fate.

Wooyuan was a stray dog I found during college. In Taiwanese Hokkien, the words “Wu Yuan” sound like “having fate” or “meant to be,” which is why I gave her that name—it felt like destiny brought us together. She passed away five years ago and became a little angel. Two years later, when my child was born, I sensed something extraordinary, as if she had come back to me in a new form. That feeling inspired me to turn our story into something more tangible, which became the heart of this project. The story follows Wooyuan’s journey after passing—through cremation, to the afterlife, and into a heavenly place where dogs can choose whose child they want to become. She finds a photo of me in a magical album... and chooses to return as my child. During production and voiceover, I often felt overwhelmed with emotion. I hope all beloved dogs can run free and happily in heaven—and maybe, just maybe, come back as someone’s child again.