Future Flowers2024
Skills Animation 
ToolsClip Studio Paint / Photoshop

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival requested for a backdrop to be used as a photo-op for in-person events. The design was to incorporate the slogan, “Here for the bigger picture”, and allude to the organization’s identity as a film festival. As animated shorts are often part of their programming, that was used as the point of connection between the illustration-based backdrop design and film. This project draws on my past experience of drawing and painting, which has recently been translated to digital animation.
                            
Background 


The backdrop presents a deconstructed animation as a reference to Reel Asian’s programming. It portrays the germination, life, and seeding of a lotus flower which is often symbolic of rebirth and determination. Likewise, the festival is guided by its mission to support independent filmmakers through the support of community, which can require patience, overcoming, and evolution. In this case, to see the “bigger picture” is to recognize how one’s journey can help future generations to take root and also reach their full potential.
A major challenge was fulfilling the request to embody both a traditional and contemporary illustrative style. This led to my approach of using thick paint strokes to draw each frame followed by a pixelation filter which resulted in these digitized brushstrokes.


Examples in Use

                            
The animation was projected in the Bachir-Yerex Presentation Space as a looping animation for attendees at the Reel Asian x TIFF Reception in 2024.




The portable backdrop was adaptable to events hosted by Reel Asian such as the Members Appreciation Party, Awards Brunch, and Closing Night Reception. It provided a space for staff, volunteers, artists, funders, and guests to capture celebratory moments together.
A QR code in the bottom right corner leads the user to a link that displays the full animation in motion, and a membership page for those looking to get involved in the community.