Process
This was one of my favorite projects of 2024! I was originally inspired by this image of a green anole coming through a computer screen.
Jellyfish have always been my definition of motion design in the wild. They're such visually mesmerizing creatures. Endlessly complicated and blissful. A timeless beauty like the night's sky full of stars. They'd be the perfect animal for this animation.
After some early jellyfish tests, I also found the way I wanted to visually transition between the digital and real versions of the jellyfish. Here's a test with C4D's default stegosaurus model. The digital uses Octane blackbody emission textures with gridded opacity while the organic jellyfish has a deep red hue with organic textures inspired by the Sea Nettle type of jellyfish.
At the beginning of this project, I had barely touched After Effect's 2.5D features, had never done Houdini water simulations, and wasn't very confident in my animatic-making capabilities. None of that applies to me after taking this project from concept to completion. I am extremely proud of my Thesis. I think it captures my creativity, appreciation for both the tangible and the abstract, and my sense of humor so well. I hope you enjoyed this piece as much as I do rewatching it.