CASE STUDY
ARMADILLO SAFETY
Type of project: Concept Art, Illustration, 2D Animation
Services: Character Design, Environment Design, Traditional 2D Animation
Tools used: Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint
Goal: To create a short promotional film featuring a main character—developed as the brand’s mascot—and to support the growth of a modest safety-focused company through traditional animation. The project aimed to enhance the brand’s visibility with expressive backgrounds, a charming environment, and carefully crafted animated elements that together formed a visually engaging and approachable narrative.
collaboration with
Sirius Animation Studios
designing the caracter
Given complete creative freedom and full trust from the client, I was able to approach the logo design with a strong focus on authenticity—something that would visually reflect the name Wild Trace, meaning “a trail through nature.” Since hiking is at the heart of this organization, the idea of traversing unique paths and routes naturally inspired the symbolism behind the logo.
first version
corrected version
in pose
hero is born
As the concept took shape, one particular variation stood out from the rest—capturing the spirit of the brand with clarity and distinction. This version became the foundation of the final identity.
planing the animation
The animation was carefully planned in advance through a storyboard developed based on the client’s narrative.
We defined camera movement, character motion, scene transitions, and visual rhythm to align the flow of the story with the intended message.
ambient
Once the story and rough sketches were approved, we designed the environment where the action takes place. It was created in a 2D style using Clip Studio Paint, and later broken down into individual elements for animation methods such as cut-out.
A looping background was created for the main scene, along with key props like the company’s official vehicle and other objects essential to the storyline.
animation process
The animation in this project was a combination of cut-out and traditional frame-by-frame techniques. After initial sketches and planning, I drew the key moments by hand, frame by frame, to bring more expressiveness and nuance to the main scenes.
Traditional animation was supported by cut-out techniques, creating a harmonious and complementary blend that enhanced the storytelling.
Effects such as lightning and sparks were also hand-drawn frame by frame to add liveliness and better integrate the two animation styles.
Once assembled, all elements came together into a dynamic and engaging commercial that successfully delivers a story.
