Synopsis:
After a recent break up, Bug’s ex-girlfriend June calls to come pick up the rest of her stuff from their apartment. This triggers Bug to spiral, as we follow their desperate attempt at keeping their past alive by creating a massive dung ball of the items June left behind.
BugSick is a light-hearted film, but with the very real personal themes of letting go, obsession, and heartbreak that everyone has felt. Most people have either been in June's or Bug’s shoes when it comes to the end of any type of relationship. Either struggling to let go of the past or wanting to move on to the future.
When I applied for the stop motion group for third year animation.
Official Selections & Awards
• Ottawa International Animation Festival — Canadian Student Competition (2025)
• Calgary International Film Festival — Official Selection, Short Category (2025)
• Golden Grape International Short Film Festival — Official Selection (2025)
• Trik Film Festival — Official Selection (2025) • Girona Film Festival (Spain) — Official Selection (2025)
• Up-and-Coming Int. Film Festival Hannover (Germany) — Official Selection (2025)
• Reel Asian International Film Festival (Toronto) — Official Selection (2025)
• SCAD Savannah Film Festival (USA) — Official Selection (2026) Awards
• 39th Reel Asian — Air Canada Short Film or Video Award
Role & Contributions
Pre-Production
Character Design Team
Developed additional character backstory and visual explorations for the female lead; created prototype paper puppets.
Story Team
Iteratively refined the narrative structure and revised storyboards throughout production.
Editing Lead
Tracked weekly updates across departments and consolidated the latest materials into the master edit.
Puppet & Set Fabrication Team
Participated in the fabrication of Bug’s body and multiple props, including the telephone and most of June’s personal belongings.
Production & Post Production
Experimental Team
Iteratively refined storyboard compositions and contributed to the planning and filming of the experimental section.
Animation Team
Worked as an animator within the team, primarily responsible for emotionally driven and longer shots.
Compositing Team
Enhanced visual quality by fixing compositing issues, animating static elements, and performing color correction and grading to support mood and atmosphere.
Sound Team
Coordinated with the team to define musical direction, created recruitment posts for collaborators, recorded voice actors and sound effects, and integrated and mixed audio for the final film.