Sunset Drift is a 3D animation created in Maya that depicts a small boat gently floating on a moving water surface. This project served as a study of water creation and animation in Maya, with a particular focus on building a believable lake surface, refining Arnold materials and shaders, and exploring the use of HDRI and environmental lighting within the scene. The water motion was driven through keyed parameters and input expressions, while the boat’s floating movement was hand-keyed to respond to the rhythm of the surface. The piece emphasizes subtle motion, reflective material behavior, and a calm atmospheric mood, while also reflecting my interest in combining technical setup with visually poetic animation.