Stage Beyond Borders
Initiative by The Japan Foundation
Client
Stage Beyond Borders
Year
2021
Categories
2D Animation
Characters
Illustration
Stage Beyond Borders is a new initiative by The Japan Foundation through which it “promotes Japanese performing arts online for people throughout the world who are seeking opportunities to enjoy Japanese stage performances amid the pandemic”. We created this animation to act as a teaser for Japan Foundation’s performing arts schedule.
The objective of this piece is to transmit the diversity of contemporary and traditional arts existing in Japan within a 30-second animation. Japan Foundation wanted the illustrations to be modern and relatable, while at the same time truthful to Japanese traditional arts. Being that the performances are held entirely online, we had to find a way to communicate the message in a universally appealing way.
Character Exploration
Technical approach
Influenced by the performances themselves, we wanted to give the illustrations a playful look without losing their minimalist style. Working with frame-by-frame animation, we sought to distort the illustrations and provide them with fluid actions to bring them to life. Playing with stretch and squash techniques, transitioning between frames with the help of the character’s own movements.
Styleframes
Rough Animation
Credits
Production
BOL
Direction
Device
Art Director
Louis Wes
Executive Producer
Marcello Buselli
Producer
Tamara Sefcovicova
Director
Ester Dus
Additional Illustration
Alba Prado
Lead Animation
Israel Giampietro
Animation
Karla Cuba, Ester Dus
Clean Up
Karla Cuba, Ester Dus
Compositing
Ester Dus
Music & Sound Design
Raül Peix