Premise

This cinematic, “Seasons of Memory”, aims to visually interpret how memories evolve through time through the use of VFX particle based transitions in Blender 2.8x. These particle based systems and their behaviors are abstract representations of neurons, synapses, and neural activity. They are informed by academic research in the areas of memory formation recollection and neuroimaging. 

Throughout the cinematic, the viewer will peer into the memory of an unknown character and watch as the scene of the character’s memory, through  seasons and objects (ex. Leaves, grass, snow, characters), morphs and changes as time passes. Initially, it appears that the memory after each transition is a completely different one, but it is later revealed that the memory remains the same and the changes are the result of an altered recollection, of the character’s mind recalling the event at different stages in his life. As the character “ages”, he slowly forgets the exact details of the event, so he subconsciously fills in the gaps with what he believes to have seen and experienced. The memory becomes more and more subjective based on his state of mind during its recollection. In this case, time does not pass internally throughout the memory, but instead externally throughout reality. 

From joy and love in the summer scene, sadness and loneliness in the fall and winter scene, and peace and acceptance in the spring scene, the goal of “Seasons of Memory” was to portray a memory that holds a wide range of emotional significance.