Waking (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Waking is a 16-minute animated short from China about a famous actress trapped in a waking nightmare. As reality fractures around her, strange visions and cryptic clues lead toward a secret buried in her past.

Waking is a 2026 animated short from China, directed by Yang Tingmu. With a runtime of 16 minutes, it follows a famous actress whose ordinary reality begins to come apart.

The film centers on a waking nightmare shaped by visions, cryptic clues and an unresolved secret from the actress’s past. Its compact format suggests a focused, surreal story rather than an expansive narrative.

Waking movie details

Story without spoilers

The story follows a famous actress as she slips into a waking nightmare and finds the world around her increasingly difficult to trust. Strange visions and cryptic clues point toward something hidden in her history, compelling her to face a secret buried deep within her past.

The supplied synopsis presents Waking as a mystery built around fractured reality and psychological uncertainty. It does not reveal the nature of the secret or explain how the actress’s confrontation unfolds.

What to expect

Viewers can expect a 16-minute animated mystery with surreal and psychological elements. The premise places emphasis on unsettling visions, cryptic clues and the gradual unraveling of reality, while the short runtime points to a concise presentation of its central mystery.

Because Waking is identified only as Animation, the available information does not establish a more specific visual approach, tone beyond the waking-nightmare premise, or ending.

Cast and creative team

Waking is directed by Yang Tingmu. No writers or cast members are listed in the supplied information, and the project’s animation format means no voice performers are identified here.

Release and production context

Waking is listed as a 2026 release from China, with a release date of November 8, 2026. The film runs for 16 minutes and is in Mandarin. It is classified as Animation, and no production companies are listed in the supplied details.

Movies Dock view

Waking offers a compact animated premise built around a famous actress, unstable reality and a secret connected to her past. Its brief runtime and tightly framed mystery make it a concise option for viewers interested in surreal stories, though the available details leave the film’s resolution undisclosed.

Film data:
TMDB