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A plucky fish busker and his jellyfish companion outwit a terrifying shark bully in this playful animated short film.

Bait & Switch was produced by DigiPen’s Team Goochy, nine artists, animators, and music and sound designers. It was selected to show at the Portland Film Festival, Columbia Gorge International Film Festival, and Blue Plum Animation Festival.

Process Gallery

  • A title card reading "Bait & Switch" in orange against a blue ocean background
  • Credits for the film Bait & Switch in a blue background with an orange fish and pink jellyfish also seen
  • Elevator Pitch presentation slide for the film Bait & Switch. A pink jellyfish character can also be seen.
  • Presentation slide depicting scenes in the film Bait & Switch and how color and rendering is used to highlight objects
  • Presentation slide depicting inspiration for the film Bait & Switch. Abandoned clocks and cars underwater are seen.
  • Presentation slide depicting inspiration for the film Bait & Switch, including underwater cities and homes
  • Presentation slide of inspiration for the film Bait & Switch, including use of color besides blue to depict underwater scenes
  • Look and Feel presentation slide for film Bait & Switch depicting scene of large shark looking at a small orange fish
  • Look and Feel presentation slide for film Bait & Switch depicting a large shark reaching out angrily at a small orange fish
  • Look and Feel presentation slide for film Bait & Switch depicting a large shark choking a small orange fish by the neck
  • Silhouettes of three characters, labeled Jelly, Lil' Fish, and Sharkie, depicting relative sizes
  • 2D color sketches and drawings of a purple shark in jeans and a white shirt, labeled Sharkie
  • 2D color sketches and drawings of an orange fish in a striped blue t-shirt with a banjo, labeled Lil' Fish
  • 2D color sketches and drawings of secondary characters, an old red fish, and a small pink jellyfish
  • Black-and-white sketches of various shark action poses from the film Bait & Switch
  • Black-and-white sketches of various fish and banjo action poses from the film Bait & Switch
  • Black-and-white sketches of various shark facial expressions from the film Bait & Switch
  • Black-and-white sketches of various fish facial expressions from the film Bait & Switch
  • Environmental sketches and drawings of underwater street and buildings seen in the film Bait & Switch
  • Environmental sketches and drawings of underwater bus stop and orange fish from the film Bait & Switch
  • Top-down map showing relative positions of building and bus stop locations in the action of the film Bait & Switch
  • Presentation slide for the film Bait & Switch depicting the rules for warping the looks of buildings
  • Presentation slide for the film Bait & Switch depicting the rules for sunken objects as buildings in the scene
  • Colored design concept art for the various buildings seen in the film Bait & Switch
  • Color storyboard for the film Bait & Switch depicting the story from beginning to end
  • Presentation slide for the film Bait & Switch depicting the style of texturing used for various objects
  • Presentation slide for the film Bait & Switch depicting the rendering techniques used to create the look of the 3D characters
  • A fully rendered 3D model of a purple shark in jeans and a white shirt labeled "Sharkie"
  • A fully rendered 3D model of an orange fish in a blue-striped shirt and red hat labeled "Lil' Fish"
  • At a bus stop underwater, a large purple shark in jeans confronts a smaller orange fish in a striped t-shirt holding a banjo

Awards and Recognition

Official Selections and Screenings

  • 2015 Blue Plum Animation Festival
  • 2015 Columbia Gorge International Film Festival
  • 2015 Portland Film Festival

The Team

  • Evan Alderete

    BA in Music and Sound Design

    Role: Composer

  • Grey Davenport

    BA in Music and Sound Design

    Role: Sound Design

  • Ian Hampton

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Environment Artist

  • Cole Harrington

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Animator

  • Kevin Kaufman

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Animator

  • Siew Yi Liang

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Animator

  • Derek Schuetz

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Environment Artist

  • Seongjun Yun

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Concept Artist

  • Jakob Zoepfl

    BFA in Digital Art and Animation

    Role: Producer, Animator

Animation Stills

  • A gloomy street looking across at windowed double-doors leading into a building underneath the sea
  • A small pink jellyfish looks at an open tin can in front of an orange fish holding a guitar-like instrument
  • An orange fish in a red cap and striped blue t-shirt and holding a guitar-like instrument looks upwards
  • A purple shark in jeans bares his teeth coming up behind a small orange fish in a blue-striped t-shirt
  • A small orange fish is being choked at its neck, its eyes bulging out and tongue hanging out
  • An orange hand holds out a brown wallet. An ID card with the name "Sharky" can be seen inside.
  • An orange fish in a red cap and striped blue t-shirt and holding happily plays a guitar-like instrument at a bus stop
  • At a bus stop underwater, a large purple shark in jeans confronts a smaller orange fish in a striped t-shirt holding a banjo