Last Dance
Objective:
Creating an animation that portrays the concept of dangerous attraction.
Concept:
This narrative explores the theme of an overwhelming desire that ultimately leads to one's demise. Using the metaphor of a moth drawn to the flame, the animation explores the dangers of irresistible desires that illustrate how something new and exciting can blind individuals, leading to tragic consequences.
Highlights:
I experienced the power of collaboration firsthand, working with a sound designer and a team of four for the first time to bring the "moth to a flame" metaphor to life.
Deliverables:
My role:
Anggie Arivia
Winnie Kuo
Lauryn Vania Kurniawan
Concept development, storyboard development, environmental lighting, GC world-building, compositing
Animation
Collaboration:
Styleframes:
Process:
The process includes ideation concepts, sketch explorations, character design for the moth, environment setup in Cinema 4D, lighting tests, hiring a sound composer for music, and comping in After Effects.
Storyboard Sketch+Storyline Script:
In a moonlit glade, a lone moth fluttered through the night, her wings a soft whisper in the darkness. Drawn irresistibly to a solitary flame dancing gracefully in a lantern, she felt a pull like no other—a magnetic allure, both beautiful and dangerous.
The flame flickered invitingly, as the glass of the lantern opened up, casting warm, golden light that promised warmth and wonder. The moth, entranced by this luminous beacon, moved closer, her heart beating in a wild, chaotic rhythm. She knew the peril, the stories of others who had succumbed, yet she couldn’t resist; the flame was like nothing she had ever seen—mesmerizing, enchanting.
In her imagination, she enters a whole new realm as she dances in the still night—moth and flame, a duo bound by a fatal attraction. As she drew nearer, the heat intensified, but so did her desire. In one final, desperate flutter, she reached the flame, embracing it in a passionate, fiery kiss.
In that brief, incandescent moment, their love was consummated in a burst of light and heat, a fleeting, beautiful union. And then, in a wisp of smoke, she was gone, leaving the flame to flicker alone, mourning its ephemeral lover under the uncaring gaze of the stars.
Character Moth Design Process:
Anggie Arivia was in charge of the character design of the moth as well as animating the wings of the moth. We went through multiple variations of the character design of the moth, from 2D to a more realistic build.
Environment Set-up:
Winnie Kuo was in charge of the “realistic world” set-up. Originally, we wanted the set-up of the lantern placed right above the water. However, it made more sense to have the lantern be in a more realistic environment, where it is placed on a grassy field.
Anggie Arivia and I were also in charge of the environment and lighting of the imaginary world set-up as well as the animation of the imaginary world. We went through many variations of how the architectural flame-like elements interacted with the moth character.
