Gearshift - 2025
A stylized 3D short blending 2D aesthetics with 3D production, created in Blender. The four-month project followed a full animation pipeline, with an additional focus on exploring VR-based workflows for efficient asset creation.
Goal
Create a 3D non-photorealistic rendered animated short in Blender within 4 months.
Motivation
Inspired by animations like Spiderverse, Arcane & Entergalactic we set out to create a stylised 3D short that blends expressive 2D aesthetics with technical 3D production. This project challenged us to step outside our comfort zones—Beth explored 3D and stylised painting for the first time, while Elin led the technical pipeline in Blender. Working as a dedicated two-person team pushed us creatively and we found huge mutual benefit in the collaboration.
Gearshift is a vibrant 3D animated short detailing the adventures of a young boy on his bike as he pursues a truck through a lush forest.
Motivation
Inspired by Spiderverse, Arcane, and Entergalactic, we were curious whether a small team could achieve a strong, stylised 3D look using Blender. The project was driven by a desire to explore expressive, non-photorealistic visuals within a limited setup.
Goal
Our goal was to create a short stylised 3D animation in Blender that blends 2D-inspired aesthetics with a practical production workflow, testing what is achievable with a two-person team.
My role
I led the technical pipeline in Blender—covering modeling, rigging, animation, and compositing—while co-developing the story and visual style with Beth Fuller.
The production followed a four-phase pipeline: concept development, pre-production, production, and post-production. We began by shaping the story, style, and concept art before moving into asset creation, storyboarding, and animatics. Production focused on modeling, rigging, and animation, while post-production brought the project together with rendering, editing, sound, and compositing. Pre-production and asset creation were the most time-intensive phases.Working closely with designers and project managers, I organized large amounts of content, designed clear visual systems, and iterated based on feedback. The process balanced historical accuracy, clarity, and usability within an interactive exhibition context.
Process
We are currently continuing development on the project. More information can be found on the Royal Danish Academy's Graduation page.
VR vs. Blender: Rethinking 3D Modeling Pipelines
In planning our four-month production timeline for Gearshift, we identified pre-production and asset creation as the most time-intensive phases. This included developing the narrative, concept art, storyboards, and an animatic—alongside extensive 3D modeling of characters, props, and environments. Since we were both relatively new to 3D modeling, we aimed to build an efficient, stylized, and beginner-friendly workflow. On the recommendation of our supervisor, we explored Gravity Sketch, a VR-based modeling tool, to potentially accelerate this process. This exploration led us to formulate a focused research question around optimizing our modeling pipeline.
