“Based on real friendships and events, different forms of young female independence take the spotlight in this optimistic slice-of-life film. At the same time, ‘Starlit’ is a coming-of-age fantasy in which risk-taking skips the trauma and resides in marvelous discoveries of the universe.  

The characters, setting, and gossip are taken from my experiences of growing up around forests and under starry skies where I navigated adolescence in the company of diverse, unconventional, and courageous girlfriends. There was a therapeutic and empowering aspect to making this film, in which I was able to rewrite my own traumatic coming-of-age experiences and transform them with total control. It was vital for me to weave in the sci-fi narrative of the green bug-eyed aliens to represent how to acknowledge fear, not be jaded, and continue to live life to the fullest. Through 4 years of hand painting this animation, I was able to heal and meditate on what is important to me.

‘Starlit’ is an homage and celebration of the young women who helped shape who I am today.”   

-Shannon Lee