I was genuinely surprised by how the small, foundational concepts we’ve covered in class were applied to create something as complex and captivating as the digital sand dune simulation in Mujo. Concepts like layering textures, oscillations, and shadow, and adjusting particle movement seemed straightforward in isolation, yet seeing them combined in such a way brought an unexpected level of realism to the dunes. Each grain of sand appeared to move independently, yet it all worked together to mimic the fluid, shifting nature of real sand in the wind. It made me realize that these basic tools and techniques, which seemed almost too simple at first, can be powerful building blocks when used thoughtfully.