DETROIT, Mich.—Jesse Leece, a graphic designer, was very appreciative of the vividly animated backdrops he saw when he watched Shen Yun Performing Arts on Oct. 27. “This is the first show that I’ve ever seen that incorporated animation along with it,” Jesse said. “I was really impressed with all of the [dances] that included the animation …  It really increased the story, it made me understand what was going on better.” The animated backdrops in New York-based Shen Yun’s performances are able to extend the stage endlessly and allow the performers to travel between scenes with ease. This also allows each dance to better tell a story, as a picture is worth a thousand words. Jesse attended the performance with his wife, Erin, who is a solar energy consultant. “The stories were very detailed,” Erin said. “The stories really brought everything to life and showed us what’s happened in China and …