Fished

This is a mini-environment I did in about 1 week. I completed everything from the modeling, and uving, to texturing and rendering within this time frame along with coming up with the story behind the piece. This project involved incorporating two random pieces of media into a new and original story. I was given the song Lovefool by The Cardigans and a picture of bubbles. From that I created this environment and this story which it is based on:

In a river located in a mundane village, Shelby, the salmon, spends her day swimming along the river floor quickly becoming tired of the same routine. Her friends all seem happy and in love but she can’t seem to be satisfied with those around her. Her parents suggest the safe option of marrying her neighbor Sam but despite his kindness, she feels as though there is something else out there for her. She knows she should be returning home for the day but Shelby can’t help but reflect on the words of her father, “Never go near the water's edge”. She thinks to herself what could be out there that he is trying to hold her back from. Could it be something new? In a moment of desperate rebellion, she sets aside the warning and ventures out, thinking to herself what could go wrong. She explores the area but nothing seems any different to her until she notices a crowd of fish and something catches her eye. Looking up she is blinded by the metal reflection of a boat, her eyes move further up and she is astonished to see a real human being. She stares at the mysterious features of the man as she feels a new emotion she has never felt before wash over her. Could this be love? She thinks of a way to get his attention, blowing bubbles in the shape of a heart hoping that it will captivate him but she remains blended in with the rest of the gazing fish. She sees other fish one by one get hooked up and reeled in by the fisherman, one day wishing she will be picked. Every afternoon she comes back to the water's edge blowing heart-shaped bubbles up to the surface hoping to be noticed. Love me, love me say that you love me she thinks to herself. Finally, that one day does come. As she sends her bubble hearts up to the surface the shiny metal hook floats down to her. Grabbing on, she is caught and reeled up to the surface. Shelby is full of pure joy, she is finally seen. The fisherman holds the fish out before his eyes looking her up and down until finally tossing her in a bin with the other fish marked Shingo’s Fresh Sushi.

The Fisherman
Story overview: this is a story about one-sided love, obsession, the harm of hookup culture, and the physical pain heartbreak can cause as expressed in the song Lovefool by The Cardigans.
Shingo is a Japanese male name meaning heart or myself, serving as a metaphor for someone who only loves himself.