High up in an isolated tower, an odd alchemist's experiment to change basic metal to gold becomes unstable. Transmute is an original animated short film conceived around the theme of metamorphosis, nodding to the archaic alchemical pursuit of transmutation while using bold colors, clean shapes, and a distinctly modern visual language to tell a story that feels both ancient and immediate.
Craft & Approach
Directed, illustrated, and animated by Fern's Quincy Baltes, Transmute is built entirely on traditional animation techniques. Frame-by-frame character animation paired with stylistic illustration that gives every scene a handcrafted texture. The character development and visual storytelling showcase fresh approaches to short-form narrative, proving that animation doesn't need runtime to create atmosphere and emotional resonance.
The film's bold art direction and fluid cel animation reflect Fern's commitment to original storytelling, the kind of work we pursue between client projects to push our craft forward, experiment with technique, and tell stories that wouldn't exist otherwise.
Music and sound design by Zing Audio bring the alchemist's world to life with tactile, immersive audio that matches the handmade quality of the visuals.
