Animation & illustration
Small worlds. Big feelings.Big feelings.
Short animated films and illustration, from first sketch to final frame.
Recent client work.
Three short films in 3D, 2D and clay styles.
- 3D crochet
- 45s film
- 28s making-of
One More Jump
Helps people care about your cause.
A little astronaut saves a fish and takes it home to the sea. There are no words, so anyone, anywhere, understands it.
Why crochet: Soft wool makes a sad story feel gentle and kind.
- 2D illustrated
- 30s film
- 23s making-of
The Photo We Keep
Makes people feel love, and remember it.
A couple takes photos in a booth, and he keeps one in his wallet. Viewers think of someone they love.
Why hand-painted 2D: It looks like a memory. One warm lamp in a blue night makes their love glow.
- Clay
- 24s film
- 17s making-of
The Biscuit Chase
Makes your product the star, so people want it.
A hungry chicken chases a rolling biscuit across the kitchen. The biscuit is in every shot, so people remember it.
Why clay: Clay looks real enough to touch, so food looks good enough to eat. It also makes the funny parts funnier.
Fine art
Work for the wall.
Prints and illustrations, shown the way they would hang.
Printmaking
Made by hand.
Linocut, relief and monoprint, made by hand for clients.
![A pencil drawing of the design is made on paper.]()
01 Draw ![Carving tools and a linoleum block laid out ready to use.]()
02 Tools ![Carving the design into the linoleum block.]()
03 Carve ![Rolling ink onto the carved block.]()
04 Ink ![Pressing paper onto the inked block.]()
05 Press ![Pulling the finished print from the block.]()
06 Pull
Prints
Want a print made for you? Start a project
Illustration
Illustration.
From small studies to finished pieces.
About
A brighter way to see things.
I'm Xavier Tai. Through ImproveHappy, I create animation and visual arts for clients.
I take each project from first idea to finished piece:
- Short animated films
- Character and world design
- Illustration and artwork
- Printmaking
I draw for film and for paper.
Contact
Let's make something move.
Have a project in mind? Share a few details and I will reply with next steps.
Animated films / Character design / Illustration