Completed during my Master’s study, Rattling is a short 3D animated film following the seemingly random journey of a small green rock across a desert landscape. Moved by weather, animals, and environmental events, the rock is gradually carried toward a distant lake, where its hidden purpose is revealed: it contains a seed that eventually grows into a tree.

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The film explores how chance encounters and seemingly unrelated events can become interconnected over time, creating a narrative inspired by the butterfly effect. Rather than relying on dialogue or a character with clear intentions, the environment itself becomes the main force driving the story.

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The project also experiments with an AI-assisted 3D workflow, using generated imagery for visual references and matte painting of static environmental elements. This allowed more production time to be focused on animation, pacing, and storytelling while exploring how AI tools can support an independent 3D animation process.