I’m producing an entertainment-focused 3D animated short film and need a specialist who can take the piece from early concept through to a polished, realistic final render. The style should feel cinematic rather than cartoonish, with believable lighting, materials, and character movement that pull viewers straight into the story. The narrative is still open for creative input, so I’m happy to collaborate on script tweaks, visual language, and pacing. Expect a brief runtime—just long enough to deliver a strong emotional punch—so every shot must count. Preferred workflow Real-time tools like Unreal Engine or traditional pipelines in Maya/Blender are both fine, as long as the final output meets the quality bar of current AAA game cinematics or high-end short films. Please keep your scene files organised, use clear naming conventions, and supply any texture or simulation caches so the project stays editable. Deliverables • Storyboard and/or animatic for approval • Final 4K (and 1080p) video file with sound bed • All project assets, including rigged models, textures, scene files, and a render pass breakdown Acceptance criteria The finished short should: 1. Maintain a photoreal, cohesive look across characters, props, and environments. 2. Run smoothly from start to finish without visible glitches, intersecting geometry, or unfinished simulations. 3. Arrive fully mastered with colour grading and audio synced. Please let me know which core software you prefer, rough estimates on turnaround time, and a reel or links that show comparable realistic work.