Pet Fellows

Hello, everyone! Catarina here! And this week I'd like to talk about my process in making a short animated video for a company.

It's much easier to do something that aligns with your values.

I decided I wanted to explore animation even before I knew how to draw, it was easier to motivate me to start learning it because it aligned with my self perception.

It was terrifying, especially since I had only begun drawing/illustrating two years ago when I realized I wanted to pursue animation. I believe that drawing is a skill that should be valued more; it is very useful for sharing and transforming ideas into something tangible.

I didn't pursue arts, I lacked principles and had no idea what I was doing, so I just practiced. For three months, I drew every day.

After drawing and animating being the main focus of attention. I looked for a job where I could put this to the test. In February, I began looking for a job because classes had just begun, I didn't have much to do, and I wanted to feel useful.

After two months, a company contacted me, but I was already overloaded with university.

They wanted a video to promote an app for Pet Fellows, a non-profit organization based in Germany. The app makes it easier to adopt a pet and find it a new home.

I had to make a decision would I say yes or no to this opportunity?

Do you know what they mean when they say you can make time for what you love?

That's exactly what I did. I had no choice but to say yes. I wanted to be the person who made this video a reality.

You find time for yourself in the cracks — your lunch break, while you are waiting for class to start. I may had to miss a few hours of sleep, but if you look hard enough, you can find the time. It also helped that I prefer to work when the rest of the world is sleeping.

I had three weeks, two projects to complete, and my Pet Fellows animation to finish.

I learned two important things: how to manage my time and how to take deadlines seriously, as if your life depended on it (Just kidding... but not really).

As soon as the client agreed, I got to work.

I began to make a plan. I enjoy making plans and knowing that I have some control over my time. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean I always stick to them. Making plans and the creative process are not always compatible.

For starters, I only had a few days to write the script and the storyboard, and my goal was to - emotionally connect with the audience in a meaningful way.

The Storyboard:

See the full version here

Final product:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcjHMnpp044

I really enjoyed the entire process.

I also learned how to accept changes and criticism in a way that benefited both myself and the client.

There's a lot about this project that I'm not proud of; it felt rushed in places, but given the time limitations, the most important thing was to finish a story and watch it unfold.

For a future project, I know that clarity is always the first thing to consider.

That is, avoid overcrowding it with visual information and make the message clear.

None of my friends have particularly anything to do with animation and that's the beauty of it all. They gave constructive feedback that I didn't expect. I show them work before I show anybody else. I try to keep them as close to me as possible. They gave me the energy and motivation I needed to keep working.

One of the most important aspects of the creative process is having a group of people you can trust. Just a friendly reminder that I don't have to do this alone.

Writing has never been my forte, but I understand the value of words. "My work speaks for itself" we hear, but the truth is that our work does not speak for itself. Humans are curious about where things came from, how they were made, and who created them.

I hope you enjoyed this journey! Thank you for reading!