Systems and methods for projecting planar and 3D images through water or liquid onto a surface include creating a 3D model of the body of liquid and surface and 3D models of creative elements to be used in scenes. Animating the 3D models of the creative elements, placing them inside the 3D model of the body of liquid. Lighting the animated creative elements, rendering planar animations of the modeled creative elements and, using projection and texturing software, virtually projecting the planar animations back onto the surface of the 3D model of the body of liquid from the same camera position in order to “bake in” a warped transformation of the digitally rendered planar animations. Digitally rendering a 3D animation of the warped, transformed planar animations, and playing or looping the digitally rendered 3D animation through the body of liquid on a digital video player or digital server.