The Infection is a short animated piece set at a remote lakeside cabin, where something unnatural festers on the island at the lake’s center. The story is intentionally sparse, built more around atmosphere than exposition. The visuals lean into tension, using the environment as a subtle antagonist and letting the viewer fill in the blanks.

This project was a blend of 2D and 3D elements, originally centered around a sculpted character model. I ran into technical challenges integrating the model into After Effects, so I pivoted and built a 2D puppet version in Photoshop, preserving the original design while adapting to the constraints presented by the rudimentary 3D program of After Effects. That workaround ended up shaping the final look: layered textures and a slightly uncanny movement that fits the tone of the piece. It became a study in adaptation, both in the narrative and in the making. The imitations pushed the aesthetic of the project in an unexpected, but satisfying direction.