Sand Animation Artist Grace Zhang Uses Sand To Tell Key Moments of “Dune: Part Two”

Sand artist Grace Zhang releases sand animation inspired by Dune: Part Two

 “Dune: Part Two” arrives in theaters on Friday, March 1, and to celebrate the film’s release, Chinese-American sand animation artist Grace Zhang (@gracesandanimations) created brand new sand animation inspired by the sci-fi epic. Zhang uses sand as the medium and her hands to illustrate key moments of the film, which features illustrations of Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Zendaya as Chani, Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, the Fremen, sandworms, and more.

The animation art is paired with the score composed by Han Zimmer.

“I am extremely honored to have created this artistic animation inspired by DUNE:PART TWO. With flowing sand as the animation medium, I utilized the play of light and shadow and the narrative expression to convey the grand, climactic fantasy of this film.” 

Grace Zhang

Zhang’s passion for sand animation started in the 5th grade after seeing a sand animation performance on Ukraine’s Got Talent. Now, her work has been featured on Fox News and America’s Got Talent.

Aside from sand art, the 20-year-old artist has recently crowned Miss Chinatown Houston and co-hosted the “The One Dance Studio” dance competition.

About “Dune: Part Two”

The saga continues as award-winning filmmaker Denis Villeneuve embarks on “Dune: Part Two,” the next chapter of Frank Herbert’s celebrated novel Dune, with an expanded all-star international ensemble cast.  The film, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2021’s six-time Academy Award-winning “Dune.”

The big-screen epic continues the adaptation of Frank Herbert’s acclaimed bestseller Dune with returning and new stars, including Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet (“Wonka,” “Call Me by Your Name”), Zendaya (“Spider-Man: NoWay Home,” “Malcolm & Marie,” “Euphoria”), Rebecca Ferguson (“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning”), Oscar nominee Josh Brolin (“Avengers: End Game,” “Milk”), Oscar nominee Austin Butler (“Elvis,” “Once Upon A Time…In Hollywood”), Oscar nominee Florence Pugh (“Black Widow,” “Little Women”),Dave Bautista (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “Thor: Love and Thunder”), Oscar winner Christopher Walken (“The Deer Hunter,” “Hairspray”), Léa Seydoux (the “James Bond” franchise and “Crimes of the Future”), Souheila Yacoub (“The Braves,” “Climax”), with Stellan Skarsgård (the “Mamma Mia!” films, “Avengers: Age of Ultron”), with Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling (“45Years,” “Assassin’s Creed”), and Oscar winner Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men,” “Being the Ricardos”).

“Dune: Part Two” will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

Villeneuve directed from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jon Spaihts based on Herbert’s novel.  The film is produced by Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Villeneuve, Tanya Lapointe and Patrick McCormick.  The executive producers are Joshua Grode, Herbert W. Gains, Jon Spaihts, Thomas Tull, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, with Kevin J. Anderson serving as creative consultant.

Villeneuve is again collaborating with his “Dune” creatives: Oscar-winning director of photography Greig Fraser; Oscar-winning production designer Patrice Vermette; Oscar-winning editor Joe Walker; Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Paul Lambert; Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West.  Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer is again on hand to create the score.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present A Legendary Pictures Production, A Film By Denis Villeneuve, “Dune: Part Two.”  The film is slated for a March 1, 2024 release in theaters and IMAX nationwide and internationally beginning on 28 February 2024, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.