Hand-Drawn Animated Ad

B2C Animations Case Studies Page Commercial Ads Explainer videos Motion Graphics

Pulvis is a Bulgarian brand that produces high-quality urns. Their latest product – Tender Rest – is a custom-made urn for a pet that has passed on. These pet urns are modeled after the pets and shaped like astronauts in various colors. The idea behind the design is that children who have lost their beloved companion would look at the figurine and imagine their animal traveling in open space. We were inspired by these designs to create a bittersweet, emotional short animated film.

Usage

Animated Ad
Style

Frame-by-frame animation

Problem: Balancing Between Parents and Children.

When we discussed the project with our client, we faced an obstacle: creating a video that would resonate with both parents and children was challenging. The decision-makers in purchasing Pulvis’ Tender Rest urns are the parents, but the children are the ones who will emotionally engage with the figurines. Our goal was to visually communicate how these beautifully designed astronaut figurines could help children cope with the loss of a beloved pet, transforming grief into an imaginative journey among the stars.

Narrative: Crafting a Story of Hope and Imagination.

We wanted to approach the delicate subject of pet loss in a way that was uplifting rather than overly sentimental or dramatic. The story needed to be inspirational – one that gently touches on loss while emphasizing adventure, love, and the enduring bond between a child and their pet.

Breaking the story into scenes helped us maintain a clear structure, ensuring each moment contributed to the film’s emotional impact. We also decided early on that the short would be without voice-over, as we felt that letting the visuals and music carry the emotion would make it even more touching and universal.

Process: Bringing the Concept to Life.

Our incredibly talented illustrator, Stella, was at the heart of this project. She meticulously designed the characters, creating a character sheet for the boy and exploring different concept variations for the dog. Once the designs were finalized, she proceeded with sketching and building the animatic, which served as the foundation of the animation. Before diving into full animation, Stella moved the sketches using Procreate Dreams, refining the flow and timing.

Frame-by-Frame: The Art of Hand-Drawn Animation.

To bring the story to life in the most emotionally compelling way, we chose frame-by-frame animation. This was our first project using this technique, but we knew it was the best way to capture the depth of feeling and movement necessary for such an intimate story.

Frame-by-frame animation is an incredibly time-consuming and labor-intensive process, especially compared to vector animation. Unlike vector animation, where movements are created by manipulating points and paths, frame-by-frame requires drawing each individual frame by hand. This gives the animation a more fluid, organic, and heartfelt feel – perfect for conveying deep emotions.

After countless hours of dedication and hard work, Stella successfully completed this sweet, emotional short film. The end result is a touching tribute to the love we share with our pets, and how their journey doesn’t end – it just takes off into a new adventure, even if only in our imagination.