Peeler The Pig (Animation Project)

This project is a stylistic exploration blending 1920s–1930s rubber hose animation with modern 3D techniques to create a unique hybrid animation. The work merges traditional 2D visual elements with fully realized 3D assets, combining the charm and elasticity of early cartoon characters with contemporary digital tools.

The animation features a stylized car chase scene, complete with a cartoonish Pig Police Officer and a dynamic Ice Cream Truck, set against an American-inspired cityscape with animated palm trees and buildings. The environment is designed in 3D, while smoke, visual effects, and illustrative details draw inspiration from 2D techniques, using tools such as Blender's Metaballs, particle physics, and sculpting modes to achieve a cartoony feel.

Character and vehicle modelling were developed iteratively:

The Pig Police Officer was inspired by Cuphead (Studio MDHR, 2017) and designed to fit seamlessly inside the car while retaining expressive, exaggerated movements.
The vehicles, including a custom Ice Cream Truck, were crafted with attention to both realistic structure and stylized exaggeration, textured and detailed in Substance Painter to balance metallic, rubber, and illustrative elements.

The animation further experiments with cinematic techniques reminiscent of early cartoons, including black-and-white to colour transitions, a vignette effect for dramatic focus, and exaggerated motion conveyed through lattice deformation and softbody physics for tires and exhaust fumes. Illustrations for branding and environmental storytelling were created digitally in Infinite Painter and Illustrator, enhancing the narrative and world-building.

Ultimately, this work is an exploration of technique, combining 2D and 3D aesthetics in a cohesive animated short that pays homage to early animation while leveraging modern CG pipelines. It is a study in iterative design, creative problem-solving, and the fusion of historical and contemporary animation styles.