Animated Promotional Video for Social Media and Billboards
Illustration, Animation, Branding
I was focused on how the planets they would rotate on their axes. I developed two main animation styles: a flat 2D 'illusion spin' and a more dimensional 3D spherical rotation. I also experimented with shadowing effects and even designed a moon orbiting the Earth planet, though this was ultimately removed, as the moon is featured as a standalone element.
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In addition, I vectorized and expanded the illustrated assets provided to make them suitable for 3D animation, which was the approach the client ultimately chose.
I assisted Viktoria Orfanou a Video editor and motion graphics designer in creating an animated advertisement for use on social media and billboards. The client had a clear vision for a minimalist black-and-white colour scheme and wanted to incorporate pre-existing assets from their website to maintain brand identity. The central concept was a stylized solar system, depicting the addition of three new 'planets' alongside two already established ones.
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One of our first steps was to determine how the elements would move within the video and how the text would be revealed. We explored multiple approaches to achieve the desired visual impact.
I was also responsible for designing and animating the Sun, which would appear at the center of the solar system. Above are some of the concepts we presented to the client. We ultimately agreed that the version featuring a yellow glow offered a striking pop of colour in an otherwise colourless composition, so we opted to use that one.
The most fun part of this project was animating the UFO—a character that served as a visual guide, drawing attention to key moments and introducing the new planets. Since the advertisement had no voiceover, the UFO acted as a kind of visual presenter.
I was responsible for animating the UFO. Initially, I explored various design concepts for its appearance, though subsequently a design was provided to use instead.
Although the UFO wasn’t a 3D model, I wanted its movement to feel dynamic and dimensional. I used Adobe After Effects to build a set of animation controllers, which gave me the flexibility to create complex motions that mimicked 3D by changing the UFO’s shape and angle.
We sent the client a sample where the UFO bounced off the planets in a playful, cartoonish way. To my delight, they loved this flimsier, character-driven approach and encouraged us to lean into it. That gave us the freedom to give the UFO a playful personality, transforming it from a simple object into a lively, engaging character.
This is the portrait version of the final video. With Victoria’s seasoned video editing skills and dynamic motion design, the advertisement comes to life—combining cinematic flair with humour, a strong brand identity, and a clear message.
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I was thrilled to be part of this project and contribute my share, and I’m genuinely proud of the final result.