2s Lighter
A smooth, 2-second loop focused on fluid motion, expressive design, and precise timing.
Watch the Animation
This short animation explores subtle, natural motion using refined timing and keyframe adjustments. The goal was to keep it smooth and expressive within a tight 2-second loop.
Project Overview
2s Lighter was created in After Effects as a study in fluid, believable movement. I wanted to challenge myself to create animation that felt expressive yet simple within a short duration. This required refining my keyframes and focusing heavily on easing and visual rhythm.
Creative Process
- Concept & Storyboarding: Began with sketches to block out motion and rhythm.
- Design: Focused on simple silhouettes and clean shapes to enhance clarity.
- Animation: Used After Effects to animate motion using manual keyframes and custom easing curves.
- Refinement: Iterated on the timing to remove stiffness and improve flow.
Visual Assets
Tattooed arm illustration used as the main animated subject.
Vector lighter asset for the hand motion.
Smoke overlay used to add atmospheric depth.
Final arrangement showing all key assets in composition.
Challenges
- Creating meaningful motion within a strict 2-second timeframe.
- Maintaining a minimalist visual style without sacrificing visual interest.
- Refining timing and easing for a smooth, non-mechanical animation feel.
- Experimented with a subtle breathing scale effect but replaced it with a ripple that better captured organic tattoo movement.