MISSION: SIT POSSIBLE

DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION · MOTION GRAPHICS

This project was created for my Motion Graphics Design class. The assignment was to develop a diorama-style animation and accompanying title sequence. I chose to base mine on a humorous class inside joke: a heist to steal a chair from the school basement for our professor, John “Symko,” to place in the GMW hallway.

The final piece is a playful, cinematic take on a heist sequence, complete with masks, alarms, and hidden Easter eggs.

Storyboards

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Process & Assets

Characters: Designed as simplified, cartoonish figures to emphasize humor.
Environment: The basement setting included props like a “Help Wanted” sign referencing our professor, a Techy the Tiger head, and other hidden nods to our school.
Opening Curtain: Shaky School Elevator
Closing Curtain: Jail Cell after the students are caught.

Final Motion Graphic

Reflection

This project was a major opportunity to build my technical skills in motion graphics. I learned how to use Adobe After Effects to assemble and animate all elements of the diorama. Specifically, I practiced:

  • Keyframing: Creating smooth character movements, camera pans, and object animations.
  • Timing and Easing: Matching actions to music cues, like the alarm sequence, for comedic and cinematic effect.
  • Masking and Layering: Combining multiple assets to create depth in the scene and highlight details like hidden Easter eggs.
  • Exporting and Video Composition: Managing sequences for final output and embedding placeholders while the final QuickTime file is completed.

Through this process, I gained confidence in translating a storyboard into a polished animation, troubleshooting technical challenges, and using After Effects tools to control timing and visual storytelling. These skills will be directly applicable to future motion graphics projects.