Client: Netflix
Stuido: Vox Creative
Art Direction: Alex Cheung
Design: Alex Cheung, Louis Hamwey, Ashlie Juarbe
Animation Direction: Louis Hamwey
Cel Animation: Iveta Karpathyova
Motion Design: Louis Hamwey & FAVO Studio
Like most creatives, I like challenges. A project that forces me out of my comfort zone and to explore a space I had never really considered. Success or failure, it always gives me the confidence that I can continue to grow as a motion designer. Perhaps nothing better encapsulated that sentiment than Faces on Screen.
Netflix was looking to add to their Vox produced Explained series, specifically around how the history and implemnation of racist caricautes in film and TV have created stereotypes and prejudices that persist today. The incredible production team at Vox worked over a year carefully crafting a story that brought this dark history to light and reframed it in a contemporary context.
Working closely with the art director, I developed an animation style that was considerate of the sensitive nature of the archival elements we had to work with. I always wanted to frame them in a way them did not alter their context, while highlighting their impact. Once established, I led a team of designers, cel animators, and motion designers to create one of the proudest pieces of content I have had the pleasure to be involved in.
Unfortunately, by the time the video was completed, internal changes at Netlix put the video on the shelf indefinitely. However, if you are interested you can check it out here. Just reach out for the password :)