penumbra

Senior Thesis film at Pratt Institute, releasing in 2026

Synopsis: Following two story lines that eventually merge, a kid experiences the grief of their brother's death through flashbacks. This occurrence begins at a small town football game and threads into the kid's discovery and care of a mysterious hare. The hare becomes a symbol of his brother as his tender childhood memories and present emotions intertwine. It is an expression and exploration of unconventional grieving through sensation and touch.

• In charge of all stages of animation pipeline over three semesters, along with a series of pitches to a panel to track development

• Visual development and exploration of mood through themes of grief and youth

• Storyboard and animate over 60 shots, revising according to periodic critiques from pitches

• Coordinated with colorists and composer to create a cohesive atmosphere

Background design and lighting became a main focus for story telling and production. The backgrounds were mainly drawn in Procreate with a dry graphite texture, but there were around 20 hand painted backgrounds as well. These were painted with acrylic on artist board. The painted backgrounds maintained a looser feeling, representing memories and haziness of childhood.