Directing

Puzhen Zhang

Puzhen is a Chinese animation director specialising in handmade stop-motion animation. She holds a BSc in Traditional Chinese Pharmacy from China Pharmaceutical University and an MFA in Directing Animation from the National Film and Television School (NFTS), UK. Rooted in the Chinese female gaze, her work pursues both innocent, tender perspectives and harsh, realistic themes — always through tactile, handcrafted imagery. Her latest film, Deep End, explores the possibilities of 3D-printed ball-jointed puppets in stop-motion, while using different materials, lighting, and frame-by-frame animation to bring the movement of water to life.