I started this project in 2025 and kept coming back to it whenever I felt like my skills had improved. It is one of those projects I never felt fully done with, because I always saw something I wanted to push further.
The main setup is a VDB ice form that slowly gets eaten away by a melting mask. I added droplets, a puddle simulation, bubbles inside the ice that melt away with it, and a Vellum simulation for the flower. I also added a very subtle jitter to the flower to make it feel like it is gently moving inside the ice.
I am really happy with the first shot, although there are still parts of the later shots I would like to revisit. Still, this project taught me a lot about combining different Houdini simulations into one visual idea.
Huge thanks also to Emilia Kuba Kern, who created the beautiful music used in this piece!
Previz done in Houdini and After Effects
