Case Study: The History of the Graham Cracker - Animated Doc
Project: Independent Animated Short
Role: Creative Director, Animator, & Mixed-Media Artist
Accolades: Featured on Motionographer & Stash | Official Selection at Multiple International Film Festivals
The Vision & Industry Reception
What started as a fascination with a "wild" historical footnote turned into a globally recognized piece of motion art. Developed over 1.5 years during the quiet windows of maternity leave and freelance gaps, this project became a viral success within the design community. It was hand-picked for features by Motionographer and Stash Magazine, and screened at several film festivals.
The "Lo-Fi" Strategy: Stop-Motion Meets 3D
To achieve a look that felt truly handcrafted and "pre-digital," I blended traditional analog techniques with modern digital pipelines:
Analog Folding: I rejected the "fake" digital fold. Using a phone camera and a basic tripod, I executed a real stop-motion sequence. I printed frames of the video, physically folded them, and re-captured them to create a tactile transition effect that anchors the piece in reality.
The 3D Overpaint: For complex movements like the boiling pot- I utilized Cinema4D. After animating the 3D model, I brought the sequence into Photoshop to hand-paint every single frame. This painstaking process ensured the 3D assets blended seamlessly into the gritty, "cut-and-paste" collage aesthetic.
The Narrative Flow: Because the story is so bizarre, I kept the energy high. I focused on a fast-paced rhythm that keeps the viewer engaged, ensuring the "cut-and-paste" look never felt messy, but always intentional and fun.
