Motion Graphic Series: Exploring Hand-Drawn Animation
Project Overview
This self-initiated motion graphics project focused on creating hand-drawn walk cycle animations. The primary goal was to explore character movement through traditional frame-by-frame animation techniques while expanding my visual storytelling skills in motion design.
Inspiration & Ideation
Concept development was inspired by a mix of media I personally enjoy, along with curated visual references sourced through platforms like Pinterest. The aesthetic direction leaned into expressive, slightly stylized motion to prioritize personality over technical perfection.
Process & Tools
Each frame of the animation was illustrated by hand using Procreate and Adobe Photoshop, with an emphasis on fluid transitions and consistent form across keyframes and in-betweens. While the final product was minimal in length, the process was intentionally time-intensive to better understand the fundamentals of movement.
Key Challenge
A major learning curve came with the walk cycle itself. Though considered a foundational animation principle, executing a smooth, believable cycle proved to be far more complex than expected. Balancing timing, weight distribution, and character consistency required both patience and iteration.
Outcome & Reflection
The final motion piece served as both a personal and professional development milestone. It deepened my appreciation for animation as a craft and confirmed my interest in pursuing additional motion design and character animation projects moving forward. This project not only strengthened my visual skills but also reinforced my curiosity for storytelling through movement.
Concept & Inspiration
This piece was a stylized rotoscope animation featuring a samurai slicing through a lemon, designed to blend realistic movement with graphic storytelling. Inspired by dynamic fight choreography and the fluidity of traditional Japanese animation, the goal was to study real-world motion and translate it into a hand-drawn format.
Process & Tools
The animation was created entirely in Adobe Photoshop, frame by frame. Using a video reference, I carefully sketched over each frame to capture accurate motion while simplifying shapes and contours for stylization. The slicing action was timed for maximum impact within a looping GIF format.
Challenges
This was one of the most labor-intensive projects of the series. Rotoscoping required full focus on anatomy, weight, and pacing. Even small adjustments between frames had a major impact on the fluidity of motion, and staying consistent across so many iterations was a real test of endurance and precision.
Outcome
The final piece successfully communicates the intended action with both weight and clarity. It served as a deep dive into rotoscoping techniques and emphasized the importance of frame rhythm and detail management in traditional animation workflows.
Concept & Inspiration
This animation was designed as a short, looping visual narrative set on a dystopian planet beneath a glowing red moon. At the center: a sword pulsing with mysterious energy, symbolizing power, danger, and allure. The concept was inspired by science fiction and fantasy imagery, as well as moody concept art found through Pinterest and film references.
Process & Tools
The visual was built using a combination of Procreate and Photoshop. I began with static environment and object design, focusing on lighting, mood, and texture before isolating motion to the sword’s glow and atmospheric effects like ambient particles and subtle camera movement. The goal was to bring stillness and suspense into animation through pacing and contrast.
Challenges
Unlike the other pieces in the series, this project wasn’t centered on character motion. The challenge here was creating emotional tension and depth without movement-heavy animation. It took experimentation with glow effects, rhythm, and framing to give the sword a sense of presence that felt like it was calling out, without needing dialogue or action.
Outcome
The final animation stands out as a mood piece—minimal in motion, but rich in atmosphere. It allowed me to explore environmental storytelling through animation and demonstrated the potential of subtle effects to create tension and intrigue in short-form visual content.
Final Reflection
Each animation in this series pushed my skills in a different direction, whether it was the precision of character movement, the intensity of rotoscope work, or the quiet power of atmospheric storytelling. These projects not only strengthened my technical foundation in motion design but also opened up new areas of creative interest. I'm excited to continue exploring animation, especially in ways that blend storytelling, stylization, and emotion.