01
THE FILM
A young Japanese woman has a life goal of becoming a pilot, but encounters roadblocks entering a male-dominated field and her own self-doubts. Throughout her journey, with the support of her precocious and magical Daruma Doll, she is able to overcome adversity in the pursuit of her sky-high dreams.​​
02
THE MISSION
Our mission is to tell a story highlighting some of the struggles that women face when pursuing careers in male dominated industries.
Inspired by both traditions surrounding Daruma dolls and real life chronicles of feminine tenacity, Daruma draws on both the magical and the familiar to tell a story of facing misogyny and achieving one's goals.
Japan's first commercial pilot: 2010 Ari Fuji
Japan's first fighter pilot: 2018 Misa Matsushima
03
DARUMA DOLLS
Daruma dolls are paper mache Japanese dolls modeled after the founder of Zen Buddhism. Typically red and gold in color, today these dolls represent good luck and fortune for the owner of the doll, who would traditionally make a wish before filling in one eye on the doll. When the wish is fulfilled, the other eye is filled in, and the daruma is complete.
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While the daruma doll is associated with wishes, the daruma doll truly represents perseverance and a reminder of life-goals. It is this spirit of the daruma doll that has inspired our short film.
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