The Story
For a South Indian teenage tennis prodigy, her life was about winning. But when her father slips into a coma with only 72 hours left, the game changes. To save him, she can't use her strength or skill, but something far more fragile: a memory.
The doctor suggests a radical last-ditch effort: "sensory stimulation." She surrounds him with a symphony of their life together: The drums from the Sankranti festival. The fragrance of sandalwood paste. The familiar touch of the tennis racket he gifted her.
With each failed attempt, her hope fades as the monitors remain flat and the beeps of the hospital room grow louder.
Just as all hope seems lost, a flicker of a memory cuts through her despair: a childhood game of choosing and the sweet taste of a mango popsicle, a treat her father always had for her.
Could the key to his survival be hidden in their smallest, most forgotten ritual? This is a story about the race to find the one memory that truly matters before it's too late.
'Popsicle' is a 2D animated short film about a teenage tennis player who must reconnect with her past to save the person she loves most: her father.
Our Vision
Too often, the stories that shape us are left untold. We want to create a film that not only showcases the beauty of South Indian culture but also speaks to a universal truth: that love is found in the simple, everyday rituals we share.
'Popsicle' explores a powerful connection through shared memories of festivals, games, and the simple, sweet taste of a mango popsicle.
Our Characters
Uma
A fiercely competitive and passionate teenage tennis prodigy from a village in Andhra Pradesh. Her identity is forged in her love for tennis, a passion nurtured by her father. Talented and successful, she also has a hot-headed temper and struggles with sportsmanship. When her father’s accident shatters her world, her grief manifests as trauma and debilitating panic attacks. This transforms her into a desperate fighter, willing to do anything to bring him back from his coma.
Dev
Uma's gentle, patient, and loving father. He is the emotional anchor of the story, a playful and nurturing parent who invented their cherished "popsicle ritual" and always supported Uma's ambitions. He is a man of quiet strength who teaches and connects through patient action—like practicing with her racket after she throws it in anger.
Dr. Priya
An experienced and pragmatic brain surgeon who acts as the voice of medical reality. She introduces the "sensory stimulation" concept, grounding the story's emotional stakes in a real-world medical fight.
Popsicle + Color
As far back as I can remember, my father drew huge color circles on the walls of our rented apartment in Chennai. Those abstract circles and the colors that filled the walls fueled my imagination. "You were born to play with color," he would say.
Little did I know, he was teaching me to see, feel, and be present in the now and beyond. I became a visual storyteller.
The color script of this film is soft, filled with the colors of Indian flowers. It has taken three years to get these colors right. I am deeply thankful for the soft pastels in my hand and for my colleague, Della, who has worked so patiently on the 'Popsicle' color palette with me.
Why Animation?
Animation gives us the power to make the internal world external. It’s an organic medium that allows us to show emotion, not just tell it.
I use animation to blend the harsh reality of a sterile hospital room with the boundless, vibrant world of memory.
- Hospital walls can sprout thorns to visualize Uma’s despair.
- A single teardrop can shatter into a collage of happier times.
- The drumbeats from her playlist can transport us directly into her childhood.
This visual storytelling allows the audience to feel the texture of her emotions and experience the power of a memory as it floods back to life.
Writer - Director - Producer - Saraswathi
Saraswathi Buyyala, also known as Vani, is a pioneering creative leader in the animation and film industry, with over 20 years of experience. As CEO and Creative Director of Dancing Atoms Studios, she oversees the development of original animated and live-action films. Her projects are optioned with Canadian, and Thai animation, VFX, and gaming studios. She is leading a training program for the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of India for the 2025 Waves summit and advises global studios on training top management to lead with empathy. She is President Emeritus of ASIFA India; she leads the Women in Animation India Collective, promoting talent and inclusivity. She has led a women’s creators program with global partners like Epic Games through her company. Vani’s career includes serving as the Creative Training Head for DreamWorks Animation (USA and Shanghai) and co-founding the Academy Award-winning studio Rhythm & Hues Asia. She loves to sing classical Indian music called Dhrupad and enjoys quiet time in the Himalayan Mountains.
Why We Need Your Help
We are an independent team of passionate artists, and we've taken this story as far as our personal dedication can go. 'Popsicle' is a story built on subtle emotion, rich color, and powerful sensory detail. To do it justice—to truly capture the blend of a sterile hospital room with the vibrant world of memory—we need to bring on a full, professional team.
Creating high-quality 2D animation is a meticulous, frame-by-frame labor of love. Your contribution will go directly to the artists and craftspeople who will bring Uma's story to life.
Here is exactly where your support will go:
Art & Pre-Production: This is the blueprint for the film's entire world. Your funds will support our artists as they finalize Uma's and Dev's designs, paint the sun-drenched backgrounds of their memories, and create the detailed storyboards that map out every single shot.
2D Animation Production: This is the most time-intensive part of the journey. Your support pays for the meticulous, frame-by-frame animation that captures everything: Uma's fierce determination, the subtle flicker of a memory, and the magical moment a hospital wall transforms from her despair.
Music, Voice & Sound: In a story about sensory memory, sound is everything. Your contribution will fund professional voice actors to give Uma and Dev their voices, the recording of authentic sounds like the Sankranti drums, and an original musical score to guide the film's emotional heartbeat.
Post-Production & Finishing: This is where we bring all the elements together. Your support will fund the final edit, the sound mix (balancing the hospital beeps with the music), and the careful color grading that makes the "Popsicle" palette truly shine.
Sharing 'Popsicle' with the World: A film is only complete when it finds its audience. A portion of our goal is dedicated to festival submission fees, so we can share this story of love, memory, and culture with audiences around the globe.
Join Us on This Journey
By supporting Popsicle , you are not just funding an animated film; you are helping to tell a universal story about the enduring power of family and memory. Every contribution, big or small, brings us one step closer to sharing Uma's journey with the world.
Please consider backing our project and sharing this campaign with anyone who believes in the power of love. (Storytelling and Animation)
Partner Studio Dancing Atoms
Dancing Atoms Studios, where creativity and innovation come together to create exceptional stories. Since 2015, we’ve specialized in producing animated and live-action films with a focus on original content that resonates with audiences.
Our team of talented writers, directors, and producers excels in bringing authentic narratives to life, supported by world-class creative teams.
They partner with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in India to offer animation, VFX, and AR-VR training, and proudly collaborate with the Unreal Engine Women Creators Program to empower women in the industry. With expertise in building creative units across Asia, we connect international clients with the Indian media and entertainment sectors.
At Dancing Atoms, they dedicated to skill development, leadership training, and delivering impactful creative services.
Technology Partner:
RFXVI is a powerful turnkey virtual studio designed for digital artist teams, providing an all-in-one platform that enables seamless collaboration, production, and delivery of high-quality digital content. Positioned at the forefront of virtual production, RFXVI combines advanced tools and innovative technology to empower creators in crafting cinematic visuals, immersive environments, and dynamic motion designs. As a next-generation creative platform, RFXVI stands out for its flexibility, speed, and scalability, redefining how digital art and virtual production come together.