This personal freelance project gave me the space to dive deeper into animation and motion graphics, exploring narrative storytelling through design. At its core, the piece tells the story of a young girl who dreams of becoming a hero—someone others can look up to. Inspired by hero-type occupations like astronauts, doctors, and first responders, the animation follows her journey from imagination to aspiration, blending whimsical visuals with heartfelt intent. The project served as both a creative outlet and a hands-on learning experience, allowing me to experiment with storyboarding, character animation, and cinematic motion design techniques.
Role:
Motion Designer
Industry:
Wellness
Duration:
9 weeks
Challenges
Develop a compelling, original narrative: that’s emotionally resonant and visually engaging.
Design and animate characters: in a way that’s expressive, relatable, and stylized for motion.
Learn and implement new animation techniques: in Adobe After Effects to push my motion graphics skills further.
Balance technical growth with emotional storytelling: ensuring the message remains clear and impactful.
Create a self-contained piece: that can be shared in my portfolio to demonstrate narrative motion design capabilities.
My Approach
Concept Development
I began with a simple question: What does it mean to be a hero? I built the story around a young girl who envisions her future with courage, imagination, and hope. Early sketches and notes helped shape the emotional arc—from quiet dreaming to a powerful realization of purpose.
Storyboarding & Visual Design
Once the narrative was mapped, I storyboarded key scenes to lock down pacing and composition. I focused on bold, minimal shapes and soft, dreamlike color palettes to support the emotional tone of the story. The visual design needed to feel imaginative but grounded—relatable to young dreamers and adults alike.
Animation & Motion Design
In Adobe After Effects, I brought each scene to life using a blend of 2D animation, layered motion, and atmospheric transitions. Character movement was kept subtle but expressive, allowing the viewer to connect with the girl's journey. I paid close attention to timing and rhythm, using motion to enhance emotion.
Sound & Final Touches
To elevate the storytelling, I layered in a soft, uplifting soundtrack and basic sound design elements—dreamy chimes, ambient transitions, and motion cues. These added depth and helped guide the emotional beats of the piece.
Results
The final animation became a meaningful addition to my portfolio and a milestone in my motion design journey. It not only allowed me to develop storytelling techniques and animation fundamentals, but also helped me build confidence as a visual storyteller. The piece resonated with viewers who saw themselves in the girl’s dreams—and reminded me why I fell in love with motion design in the first place.
Conclusion
This project was equal parts heart and hustle. It gave me the chance to learn through doing—testing new tools, embracing creative challenges, and seeing an idea through from spark to screen. More than just a motion design piece, it’s a love letter to ambition, to young dreamers, and to the power of storytelling through design.
