A Hero's Walk
Project Type
3D ANIMATION
2025
Project Type
Date
Roles
Project Type
2D ANIMATION
SOLO
2026
CHARACTER DESIGN
BACKGROUND DESIGN
2D ANIMATION
COMPOSITING
SOUND EDITING
3D ANIMATION
2025
Synopsis
The character is both a regular citizen and a hero in disguise. Despite his easygoing citizen stride, he appears to be deep in concentration as he looks at the ground. The gloom is hinted at by his sense of loneliness. He stiffens, leans forward, and quickens his pace when he hears a disturbance. After that, we see him transform into a superhero and march with strength & power. He has a confident aura that intimidates his enemies. When the enemies are caught (shown by the police car driving past), he transforms back into his regular citizen disguise.
I wish to communicate that a hero's journey can be isolating. There are people around him in the background, but when he turns into a hero, the crowd disappears. He is left to face responsibility since he is the only one with the power to defeat the enemies. He has no one with whom to discuss his secret, which accounts for the initial mood of melancholy and incessant contemplation.
Project Type
3D ANIMATION
2025
A Hero's Walk was my first attempt at frame-by-frame 2D animation, using Toon Boom Harmony.
I aimed to mix the art styles of the golden age of superhero comic books and modern superhero animation. I analyzed their painting methods and discovered that they frequently incorporated graffiti and comical elements such as halftones. They use bright, vivid colours to enliven the landscape after utilizing the contrast between the buildings and the dark blue/purple sky. They make extensive use of glow and neon lights. When I was making my background, I considered these factors.
In this project, I had to challenge myself with two character designs – the citizen versus the superhero design. My favourite aspect of this design is the halftone print found within the clothing, enhancing the comic aesthetic.
A key aspect of the animation is the impact frames once my character claps. I analyzed animated action sequences and discovered that because the camera cannot record such bright or rapid movement, the point of impact tends to be the brightest point. They frequently switch between black and white for one or two frames before returning to the scene. I enjoyed researching and applying impact frames within this walk cycle animation, making it more exciting.
Character Design
Police Car Design
Impact Frame
Background Design
