Kirana

Catatonia Still 1
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Fall 2023

Catatonia

Led visual concept development and art direction for a neo-noir short film set in an apocalyptic city, blending 2D illustration and 3D environments to craft a cinematic narrative about a detective entangled in an off-world conspiracy.

Role & Objective

  • Served as Lead Visual Artist and Concept Designer for a narrative-driven short film exploring a gritty, futuristic cityscape.
  • Aimed to build a cinematic storyworld where a detective unravels a murder mystery connected to an off-world conspiracy.
  • Focused on merging 2D illustration and 3D environments to create an innovative visual language for the film.

Actions Taken

  • Produced extensive concept art to establish the neo-noir tone, using moody lighting and textured details in Adobe Photoshop and Procreate.
  • Collaborated with 3D animators to translate 2D artwork into dynamic scenes in Blender, ensuring visual consistency.
  • Developed a layered visual language that seamlessly blends illustrated and 3D elements for atmospheric storytelling.
  • Applied animation and post-production effects in After Effects to enhance transitions and cinematic impact.
  • Refined visual pipelines to integrate 2D and 3D aesthetics, overcoming challenges to achieve a cohesive film look.

Results & Impact

  • Delivered a visually compelling short film praised for bringing the neo-noir city to life with cinematic detail.
  • Successfully merged 2D and 3D media, creating a distinctive visual style that amplifies narrative depth.
  • Strengthened skills in cinematic storytelling and pipeline development for hybrid visual projects.
  • Established a reusable workflow for integrating 2D and 3D assets now applied to future filmmaking projects.