Tug of war
I chose a frame-by-frame animation approach to give the piece a tactile, expressive energy that feels alive in every movement. This technique allowed me to exaggerate poses, push timing, and create intentional imperfections that reinforce emotion and momentum. Visually, the monster is treated as a unifying force — large, chaotic, and ever-present — while the characters are animated with distinct rhythms that reflect their individuality. As the story progresses, their motion language begins to sync, using animation itself as a storytelling device to communicate unity.
Client
Self-Initiated
Year
2022
Duration
6 weeks
Role
The biggest challenge was maintaining clarity and cohesion while animating complex action frame by frame. With multiple characters, fast beats, and evolving relationships, there was a risk of visual noise or unclear storytelling. On top of that, the shift from internal conflict to collaboration needed to feel organic, not abrupt. Every frame had to carry narrative intent, because in frame-by-frame animation there's nowhere to hide — weak transitions or unclear poses immediately break the illusion.
I leaned heavily into strong key poses and readable silhouettes to anchor the action, then built fluid transitions that guide the eye through each beat. By gradually aligning the characters' timing, spacing, and direction of movement, I used animation principles to visually represent cooperation. The frame-by-frame process allowed me to fine-tune emotion and impact at a granular level, ensuring that when the characters finally unite to defeat the monster, it feels earned, powerful, and emotionally clear — reinforcing the core idea that working together is stronger than fighting alone.
