(PROJECT DETAIL)
MEDIUM
collage, 2d, 3d, mixed media
TOOLS
ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS, ILLUSTRATOR, PHOTOSHOP, dragonframe, CINEMA 4D
A mixed-media animation exploring family dynamics through the metaphor of a shared hot pot meal.
Told through visual metaphors and narration, the story unfolds using hand-crafted food elements and expressive typography.
Told through visual metaphors and narration, the story unfolds using hand-crafted food elements and expressive typography.
How do you capture family dynamics (love, some tension, and tradition) without the usual anthropomorphic characters? – this was the question.
Early design and animation were all done digitally, which felt cold and lacked some certain feeling.
Early design and animation were all done digitally, which felt cold and lacked some certain feeling.
Finalizing the design style while encapsulating all mediums into one that would appeal to the general audience, touching people’s hearts through the message of family is what made this project successful. Wouldn’t work without the constant feedback applied and hot pot helpers!
Every family’s a unique blend of ingredients. Simmering with potential. Loving, nurturing, and complex, with just a dash of spice. Through playful clashes, we come together. Experience balances flavor and adds depth. Love can be tender, or can be firm. Sure, there is the occasional tangle. But with love and a little bit of patience, things seem to work out. Family is the broth that holds all our flavors together. Ciak! Let’s eat!
2025:
• Collision Award Gold Winner (General-Student)
• Tokyo Film & Screenplay Awards (Selected, Animation)
• Best Hollywood Day Short Film Festival (Selected, Animation)
• New York Lift-Off Film Festival (Selected, Animation)
2026:
• LA Film & Documentary Awards Winner (Best Animation)
• Collision Award Gold Winner (General-Student)
• Tokyo Film & Screenplay Awards (Selected, Animation)
• Best Hollywood Day Short Film Festival (Selected, Animation)
• New York Lift-Off Film Festival (Selected, Animation)
2026:
• LA Film & Documentary Awards Winner (Best Animation)
DESIGN
(INFO)
Hand-painted of the human touch, mixed with digital ELEMENTS. The blend brought warmth, contrast, and a sense of home.
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ALL PROJECT
THE PROCESS
BEHIND THE SCENES + AFTER THOUGHTS
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Kelly Warner and Fiona Greenleaf in action for narration!
Hot Pot Helpers!
Karla (left), Jas (middle), Eli (right)
Karla (left), Jas (middle), Eli (right)
Overview picture of most elements used in the animation, most did not end up in the final cut
Early animatic
Hand painted backgrounds, different colors to distinguish which are in the broth, the table, and other settings
Pictures of paper cut outs taken through DragonFrame and edited manually in Adobe After Effects afterwards
3D element experiment render through Cinema4D to fit animation ‘tactile ‘style
Unsuccessful PolyCam test for meat converted to 3D asset
Hand painted and cut of food elements
Another attempt on making 3D asset out of meat
Testing type with ink
Frame by frame animation of noodle scene, shot through Dragonframe and composited at Adobe After Effects
After finishing the project, I tried viewing it through a producer’s lens and realized ShotGrid could’ve made everything way smoother and more open to play.
ShotGrid overview
ShotGrid ideal project schedule
(PROJECT CREDITS)
- creatorJAS GUNARTO
- PRODUCTION ADVISORJARED GREENLEAF
- NARRATORFIONA GREENLEAF
- SOUND + MUSIC DESIGNERKELLY WARNER
- HOT POT HELPERS 🙂ELISABETH AUGUSTINE
KARLA ROBLEDO
