Systems flatten creativity -An aniamtion

Short project tagline or description goes here.

Systems Flatten Creativity – An Animation

A short animated comic that visualizes how rigid structures can crush creative energy.

Project Overview

This short animation visualizes a theme that’s deeply personal: how systems and expectations can quietly crush the creative spark. It’s a motion comic that blends illustration, metaphor, and timing to show a character reaching for inspiration—only to be overwhelmed by a crushing system.

The piece was created using Adobe Illustrator and After Effects, focusing on puppet animation and frame-by-frame elements to capture subtle emotion and weight. The goal was to practice storytelling through motion, using rhythm and composition to guide the viewer’s emotional experience.

Creative Process

This project started as a rough sketch of a tired artist slumped at a desk, and evolved into a motion piece driven by personal frustration and creative burnout. Here’s how I built it:

Step 1: Thumbnail sketches of the scene layout and emotion beats.
Step 2: Illustrated key elements in Adobe Illustrator (character, desk, background, system/weight).
Step 3: Animated the sequence in After Effects using puppet pins, keyframes, and layered timing.
Step 4: Adjusted pacing, easing, and movement to emphasize the impact of the ‘crush’ moment.

Visual Development

Main Character Sketch

System-Crushing Book

Background Layout

Pencil – Symbol of Creativity

Storyboard Planning

Initial Rough Sketch