The Idea

When we were tasked with creating a movie opener, I immediately knew I wanted to try frame-by-frame animation for the first time. The concept I developed revolved around a fictional horror movie about a woman who was murdered and thrown into the sewer. Her vengeful spirit would later return as a waterlogged corpse, haunting and terrorizing anyone who dared to pass by the sewer late at night.

As part of the assignment, we also needed to create a soundtrack for the movie opener. Given the retro vibe of the concept, I decided to use synthesizers to craft an ominous, 80s-inspired score.

The Production

Working on this project taught me just how time-consuming frame-by-frame animation truly is. I created everything using Krita, which I was familiar with and used to draw, but I quickly realized how steep the learning curve for animation can be.

At the time, I wasn’t well-versed in animation techniques and went into the project blindly, not even knowing what an animatic was. Without proper planning, I found myself figuring things out as I went, which made the production more challenging but also a valuable learning experience.

For the soundtrack, I used FL Studio, a tool I was only mildly familiar with at the time after some casual experimenting. This project was also my first attempt at composing music, which turned out to be an incredibly enjoyable experience. While working on the soundtrack, I also picked up several valuable lessons about audio processing, from layering sounds to balancing the mix.

The Result

I hold this project very dearly, as it represents the first real piece of animation I ever created. The process was incredibly strenuous but also deeply rewarding. It forced me to learn through trial and error, and I was able to pick up great deal about the principles of animation. From understanding timing and movement to experimenting with storytelling through visuals.

It also gave me a much deeper appreciation for the medium of animation. Seeing how much effort and detail goes into bringing a story to life made me respect the craft on an entirely new level.