MOTION DESIGN
STOMP EM OUT
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Purpose: Musical Narration | Duration: 1 Week (2024) | Software: Photoshop, Storyboard Pro
This project explored the intersection of rhythm, emotion, and motion through an animatic synced to the song “Stomp Em Out.” The aim was to understand how visual storytelling can be driven by music and not just following its beat, but embodying its energy.
Inspired by the film Aavesham and its raw portrayal of gang culture, the narrative channels the chaotic rush of belonging, dominance, and identity within a crew. Beneath the swagger, however, lies a hidden past, a fleeting, subliminal glimpse of the protagonist’s loss and the violent act that ultimately defines his path.
Every frame was developed to mirror the aggression and pulse of the track, creating a seamless blend between sound and story. The process involved concept development, character exploration, and timing experimentation to translate the essence of the music into visual form, resulting in a high-intensity, gang-themed animatic that feels as visceral as it sounds.
NARRATIVE DESIGN
BEFORE THE LAND FOUND US
PROCESS
The process began with shaping the characters building from rough explorations to refined design sheets that defined their personalities, posture, and presence within the story. While the narrative revolved around a central character, the soul of the piece lay in his gang, a chaotic brotherhood that gave the story its attitude and
collective energy.
Each member was designed to embody a distinct persona, contributing to the group’s dynamic as a whole. Their silhouettes, gestures, and clothing were carefully developed to reflect their hierarchy, chemistry, and shared defiance. These designs were then distilled into shorthand versions, crafted specifically for the animatic to allow smooth motion and fluid transitions without compromising on individual identity or visual impact.
CHARACTER DESIGN
HOVER TO VIEW
STORYBOARD
With the characters in place, the next step was translating the story into a storyboard. The plot was straightforward, but I focused on how each frame could carry more meaning using composition and pacing to hint at the subliminal context behind the main character’s story.
Every shot was planned to communicate as much as possible visually, without spelling it out. This stage was about finding the balance between clarity and subtlety, building a structure that supported both the surface narrative and the hidden layers beneath it.
BEATBOARD
The beatboard acted as a foundation for defining the visual tone and atmosphere of the project. Rather than just illustrating a single moment, it was designed to capture the essence of the story’s world, the gang’s dynamic, their environment, and the tension that binds them together.
In this scene, the focus was on portraying the group before their time in prison, revealing the power hierarchy and unspoken relationships through posture, light, and shadow. The heavy contrast between red and black tones helped emphasize aggression, loyalty, and danger, all central to the story’s mood.
This piece ultimately guided the overall look and feel of the animatic, setting a clear direction for its tone, color language, and cinematic style.
ANIMATIC
The final animatic combined all previous stages, character design, storyboard, and beatboard, into a cohesive motion piece. Each frame was timed to the rhythm of “Stomp Em Out,” by NLE Choppa an American rapper and songwriter from Memphis, Tennessee. ensuring the visuals hit in sync with the track’s energy.
The movement, camera angles, each frame layout were refined to match the song’s aggression, bringing the story’s intensity and mood to life. What began as static frames evolved into a rhythm-driven narrative, where sound and motion worked together to amplify the story’s impact.
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