One major challenge has been authentically recreating a 1960s–70s Chinese corner shop. Although conversations with my grandmother have provided valuable insights, relying solely on verbal descriptions left gaps in the visual details, requiring me to use imagination to fill them. To address this, I delved deeply into historical references, including photographs, books, and archival materials, to ensure the design was grounded in reality. However, even with these resources, translating the intangible warmth and emotion of the shop into a digital medium posed a significant conceptual difficulty. To achieve this, I invested significant time in sketching and experimenting with various artistic approaches, ensuring the space felt alive—not just as a static model but as a vessel for memory and imagination.

Another challenge has been balancing historical accuracy with emotional resonance. The corner shop is not just an architectural study but a reflection of my personal connection to my mother’s childhood and my grandmother’s younger years. I aimed to convey a sense of warmth, nostalgia, and human connection that transcends the physical space. This goal shaped my decisions about the layout, colour palette, and object placement in both the 2D animation and 3D scene. For instance, I designed the wiring and layout in the 3D model to reflect the hardness or softness of different materials, ensuring smooth and appropriate transitions. These small but deliberate choices helped imbue the shop with a natural and relatable aesthetic.

As part of this project, I plan to present a 2D animation video in the subsequent E2 phase, which will tell a heartwarming family story while also serving as an introduction to the gameplay in the 3D portion of the project. After the player watches the 2D animation, the experience will seamlessly transition into Geeko’s perspective, where they will immerse themselves in the life of the corner shop through a 3D interactive simulation. The technical execution of this transition, as well as the creation of the immersive gameplay, may involve the use of Unreal Engine 5 or Unity, depending on the development path the project takes. I anticipate that this will introduce new challenges, such as handling cross-platform optimization and achieving seamless transitions between 2D and 3D mediums, but I am confident that these challenges can be overcome as the project evolves.

In the 2D frame-by-frame animation, I created a story that reflects the warm, familial atmosphere of my own family. I imagined that my mother’s childhood was filled with the same warmth and closeness depicted in the animation. This narrative not only added an emotional layer to the project but also deepened my understanding of the importance of family and connection.

Technically, I used a range of tools, including Maya, Blender, Photoshop, and Illustrator, to design and produce the project. Each software posed its own challenges but also offered opportunities for creativity. Managing cross-software workflows and iterative design processes taught me valuable lessons about optimising efficiency and balancing creative ambition with technical feasibility.

Despite these challenges, this project has deepened my understanding of how design intertwines with emotion and narrative. It is not just the reconstruction of a physical space but an exploration of memory, imagination, and the connections tied to that space. Looking ahead, I plan to enhance the scene further, potentially integrating dynamic elements such as a short 3D animation where the shop comes to life through subtle interactions.

Ultimately, this project represents a creative and emotional exercise that bridges the past and the present. It reflects not only my technical growth in animation and 3D design but also my effort to honour my family’s history and convey the warmth of a bygone era. While there is more to improve and explore, I am excited about the opportunity to merge technical skill with personal storytelling in such a meaningful way, and I look forward to overcoming the upcoming challenges in developing the interactive and immersive aspects of the project.

Throughout the day, Geeko encountered one problem after another: the cards were blown away by the wind, some fell into jars, and others even broke bottles. His hurried efforts often ended in comical little mistakes. His father would sometimes get frustrated and exasperated, but in the end, he would always quietly guide Geeko, offering gentle humor and patient advice to help him regain his confidence and solve the issues. Through a series of "mishaps" and "setbacks," Geeko not only completed his task but also learned the importance of attentiveness and perseverance.

In this little corner shop, warmth and humor filled every moment. Every day brought a new story to this small shop, and on this particular day, Geeko proved—through his own unique way—that growth and effort make all the difference.

This is a story introduction video, inviting players into the warm and humorous world of the corner shop. As the story concludes, the perspective will shift seamlessly, bringing players directly into the shop to experience Geeko’s life firsthand. This marks the beginning of the game, where players will explore, interact, and immerse themselves in the daily adventures of the little gecko.