What if summer is actually made by hand? That’s the thought my new AI animated short, “The Summer Sun Factory,” began with. Somewhere high above the clouds, little animals work at a most unusual factory: a squirrel adds golden wool to the sun, a hedgehog polishes the rays, and a rabbit helps prepare everything summer simply can’t exist without — flowers, butterflies, watermelons, kites, and warm evenings. But one small accident sets off a whole chain of events, and summer quite literally comes crashing down on the world. I wanted to create a kind, slightly fairytale-like story that brings back that childhood feeling of summer being a true miracle. The film was created entirely with AI and inspired by the aesthetic of wool stop-motion — with cozy textures, miniature sets, and an atmosphere that makes the world feel truly hand-knitted from yarn.