ZZZ Yixuan Animated Short：7 Details You Never Noticed!

Zenless Zone Zero released Yixuan's animated short today. Its unique art style, Chinese cultural elements, and narrative deliver a fresh experience for Proxies, while also heralding the arrival of Zenless Zone Zero 2.0. Beyond "knives" and emotional storytelling, what other details deserve our attention? Let's delve into the short together!

1. Zenless Zone Zero Yixuan Animated Short - The Sister's Name

In the English dub, the sister's dialogue corresponds to "Yijiang" in Chinese. Based on the sword-shattered text later revealing the characters "仪绛," this confirms the sister's name.

Yixuan's "玄" (xuān) means black, while Yijiang's "绛" (jiàng) means crimson red. These colors match their respective eye colors-black for Yixuan and red for Yijiang.

2. Zenless Zone Zero Yixuan Animated Short - Yixuan's Hair Clip

Yixuan's bangs clip appears straight in early scenes but curved in official art. When did it change?

The shift occurs after Yijiang inherits their master's Qingming Sword (following the master's death). During the battle leading to the master's demise, Yixuan-unnecessarily present-faced danger, likely damaging her original clip. Per her profile's "birthday gift" hint, the new clip was likely from Yijiang. The curved shape symbolizes Yixuan embracing combat duty.

Yijiang typically wore a hairpin (seen later at her grave). After their master's death, a new barrette appears on her forehead featuring the "Li trigram" from the Bagua, meaning "mutual illumination and rivalry." This implies Yijiang knew using the sword's power would consume her. By buying time for her sister, Yijiang followed their master's path: burning her memories and emotions to protect Floating Life.

3. Zenless Zone Zero Yixuan Animated Short - Taoist Elements

Beyond the sisters' names and hair accessories, the short features significant Taoist symbolism. For example, the Taoist robe worn at Yunkui Summit bears the Kan trigram on its back. Kan represents water, symbolizing layered hazards and the fusion of dangers and hardships-fitting for an organization rescuing civilians against the Etherics.

Additionally, hanging scrolls in the room display cursive Chinese scripts quoting Chapters 1-3 of the Tao Te Ching. Chapter 3, subtitled "Governance of the Sage", may allude to the pre-collapse capital era as an age of non-interference governance.

4. Zenless Zone Zero Yixuan Animated Short - Char Siu Buns

Char siu buns serve as a recurring motif tracing Yixuan's growth.

1st Incident: Starving while homeless, Yixuan craved the buns. Yijiang stole some, triggering their fate: caught by the vendor, then rescued by their master who brought them to Yunkui Summit-the story's origin.

2nd Incident: At Yunkui, seniors brought back buns. Younger Yixuan couldn't compete, so Yijiang fought fiercely to secure one, only to split it in two with her sister-a rare warm childhood memory.

3rd Incident: Yixuan placed a bun at Yijiang's grave for Ju Fufu, who offered her half. Yixuan declined, saying "I don't like them anymore." Perhaps she blamed herself: had she not craved the bun, Yijiang might not have died. Yet starving was inevitable. Though she understood Yijiang's sacrifice for others, she now refuses to share with Ju Fufu, fearing ill fortune befalls those who partake with her.

5. Zenless Zone Zero Yixuan Animated Short - Qingming Sword

At the beginning, Yijiang states that "Yixuan's talent itself is a weapon to protect everyone." This foreshadows that Yixuan might protect others without relying on the Qingming Sword's power.

The name "青溟" (Qīng Míng) suggests water attributes. Using its power exacts a cost: sealing the user's senses, memories, and even physical body within the sword-a process mirroring Hoshimi Miyabi's Katana: "Tailless". Both weapons operate on a pact system. For example, the short reveals previous sect masters consumed by the sword, while Yijiang's spirit becomes a sword spirit, akin to the entities within "Tailless".

"Tailless" has absorbed Ether-corrupted corpses of Void Hunters since its creation. This explains Yijiang's fate and implies shared origins between the two blades.

What is the significance of birds?

Scenes of Yixuan's training and research feature pervasive avian motifs. Cross-referencing PV footage, it's likely the bird she rescued serves as a medium to mitigate or redirect the Qingming Sword's backlash, manifested through ink-wash effects. Notably, her exclusive W-Engine "Qingming" resembles a birdcage.

6. Zenless Zone Zero Yixuan Animated Short - Yijiang's Final Battle

Based on Hollow expansion patterns, Yijiang's last battle occurred during the Old Capital's collapse 11 years ago, where she suppressed Hollow Zero. Critical detail: Ethereal crystals on her face confirm Ether corruption. In such high-density Ether environments, survival was impossible even without sensory loss.

That time, Yijiang's excessive power draw erased her entire soul. The abstract text fragments during this scene-ultimately condensing to "sister" and "protect"-visualize her fading consciousness. Earlier settings transform into funerary banners, later appearing to shield Yixuan during her sword mastery. Could her soul persist in the blade despite bodily death?

Finally, who forged Qingming Sword and "Tailless"? Normal Hollows are black-yet Qingming Sword forcibly tears open a white hole, hinting at yin-yang polarity between the blade and the Hollow.

7. Zenless Zone Zero Yixuan Animated Short - Offerings to Sister

In Yixuan's memorial ritual for her sister, the offerings include a classic Cantonese arrangement: alongside the memory-laden char siu bun and hairpin, there are roast suckling pig, chicken, and Baijiu (liquor)-all symbols of prosperity. The three pairs of chopsticks likely represent Yijiang, Yixuan, and Ju Fufu. Three red candles also suggest over three years have passed since Yijiang's death.

These conclude the easily overlooked details in Yixuan's animated short. If you now feel deeper insight into her story, consider sharing with friends! Stay tuned for more Zenless Zone Zero content and merchandise-Version 2.0 approaches. Let's eagerly await its arrival!