Nowadays, pets have become a source of physical and mental relaxation for people who lead busy lives in urban cities. Instead of a superior–subordinate relationship based on ownership, pets are now viewed as family members.

The study begins by analyzing pet–human relationships through attachment theory. It then apprehends owners’ grief on losing their pets, attempting to understand the mental change that goes from reluctance to acceptance of the loss. In addition, the study focuses on the issues faced by those who cannot keep a real pet but require company; it discusses the differences between having real and mechanical pets. By analyzing the differences in the companionship offered by real and mechanical pets as represented in animations, this study is expected to lead the way to more original ideas for pet-themed animations.

“Sell Hope” is a 3D animated short film about the relationship between humans, pets, and technology. It illustrates the companionship between mechanical pets and humans. The protagonist—a little girl—buys a mechanical dog for company because she is unwilling to face the loss of her pet. However, she is unable to let go of her beloved dead dog. In this film, viewers witness the little girl’s inner thoughts from a third-person perspective—that of a vending machine. The intention is for the audience to be able to participate in her emotional journey as it changes from reluctance to facing the loss of her pet, to eventually healing from it.