Polo Bear Chronicles: Lead 2D Animation & Character Design

A stolen painting, an enigmatic bear, and a pigeon with impeccable timing : Operation Black Tie is a six-minute animated action-comedy short that follows Ralph’s debonair alter ego, the Polo Bear, as he secretly masterminds a plan to recover a priceless masterpiece so it can be put back on display at one of the world’s greatest museums—no headlines, no fuss, no wardrobe malfunctions.

I led the crucial 2D animation sequence that communicates the heist plan without narration. This involved creating intentionally simple yet stylized character designs, animating the entire non-verbal chalkboard “strategy” scene, editing, and building all sound effects. Because the narrative relied on visual clarity, this sequence played a key role in guiding the audience through the story’s turning point.

In addition to my 2D work, I also contributed support to the 3D pipeline, assisting with modeling and texture painting to help unify the film’s overall visual direction.