Woodblock, the Berlin studio founded by directing collective Polynoid in 2013, just dropped us their latest magnum opus, Bye Bear – a short film that writer/director Jan Bitzer labels a fever dream and an homage to David Lynch.

Originally pitched to Tim Miller as a chapter for the first season of Love Death + Robots, the project’s arduous six-year development process has ultimately resulted in a beautifully crafted, strangely emotional, and technically radiant 10-minute film layered with symbolism and wide open to interpretation.
 

“For me, the film is a reminder that even in a time of rapid automation, the most powerful stories are still about love, trust, and friendship.”

 
Jan Bitzer: “Ultimately, Bye Bear is less about technology itself and more about the universal need for connection, community and belonging. For me, the film is a reminder that even in a time of rapid automation, the most powerful stories are still about love, trust, and friendship.”

“Since the project was a labor of love, it went through a lot of different iterations and variations. The result is a film that bears the marks of its unrushed creation, where every frame reflects not just technical skill but genuine emotional investment in the storytelling.”

Watch the making-of interview with director Jan Bitzer:
 

 
 

 
Production: Woodblock
Writer/director: Jan Bitzer
Producer: Christian “Chan” Zehetmeier, Ilija Brunck, Jan Bitzer, Jona Brunck
Project Lead: Paul Schicketanz
Production Designer: Jan Bitzer, Tom Weber, Csaba Letay
Layout/Editing: Jan Bitzer
Concept Art: Simon Cowell
Storyboard: Anja von Harsdorf, Dzhuliya Kolontay
Cinematography: Jan Bitzer
Character Design: Tom Weber, Ben Broschinski, Alexander Dietrich, Jamie O’Hara
Character Modeling: Benjamin Broschinski, Tom Weber, Marco Hakenjos, Paul Schicketanz
Set Modeling: Tom Weber, Jan Bitzer, Thorsten Loeffler, Daniel Chun, Dzhuliya Kolontay
Texturing: Sophie Rekasowski, Jan Bitzer, Markus Eschrich, Daniel Chun, Raphael Tonn
Animation Lead: Marco Kowalik
Animation: Daniel Chun, Diana Gladenick, Georg Schneider, Jorrit Stadelmann, Jan Bitzer
Lighting Lead: Markus Eschrich
Lighting: Ole Bohnacker, Jan Bitzer
FX Lead: Fabian “Pit” Pross
Fluids/Destruction: Felix Barthel
Grooming: Georg Schneider, Rebecca Liebelt
Hair/Cloth Simulation: Christoffer Wolters, Paul Schicketanz
Tree Simulation: Ole Bohnacker
Compositing Lead: Falko Paeper
Compositing: Csaba Letay, Thorsten Löffler, Paul Schicketanz, Sophie Rekasowski, Markus Eschrich, Sarah Eim, Ole Bohnacker
Grading: Thorsten Löffler
Pipeline/RnD: Michael Heberlein, Thorsten Löffler, Paul Golter, Jack Perkins, Falko Paeper
IT Dept: Csaba Letay, Peter Hartfield
Unreal RnD: Tobias Stärk
Title/Credits: Diana Toro

Music/Sound Design: Rob Clouth

Mix: Neuton Berlin
Mixer: Thomas Wallmann

Funding: MFG Baden-Württemberg