Saudi Film Festival Animated Intro - 2024
One of my most challenging projects done in record time for ITHRA and the Saudi FIlm Festival in its 10th Edition. I was honored as I was approached by Fatima to work on their festival intro for 2024, and I took up the challenge with my Producer at the time Abrar.
Creative Direction / Story
The story this time had to be something surreal and abstract. Unlike last year, the festival requested something that had the same vibe that Red Sea Film Festival had as an intro in 2023. ZANAD TV were commissioned to make an animation for the Red Sea Film Festival that had lots of symbolism without much linear coherence. So I took it from there and decided to push myself conceptually to the limit.
The decision was to create a main character who travels through the desert of emptiness and towards the endless galaxies of filmmaking creativity and writing. With the golden film strip from the Saudi Film Festival logo as his/her pathway or guide towards reaching the festival at the end, where all the artists fall into the festival and its sprouting.
First Animatic
Early sketches of the story done by myself, were presented to the client and they were intrigued. The music in the beginning was just a test, but I knew I needed something oriental of some sorts but with deeper stronger undertones.
Music Inspiration
Poor Andre the music producer. My main reference for the video in terms of mood was the track Kiss the Ring from Hans Zimmer. Coming up with the final music track was so difficult. We went through more than 10 variations. At some point I lost all hope and asked Abrar to source other producers from around the world. We received three more samples from three other music producers to choose from but none reached the sound I wished to hear. I remember asking my dear friend Adham Alzanbagi who produced the Red Sea Waves album for advice. That advice was the key to fixing the track three days before delivery!
Storyboard Page
Final Animatic before Production
Concept Art
Some of the work done by Andrea, Diya, Shaza, and Fatima as concepts for the project.
The final look agreed upon was made by Jihad who later became the only background painter for the project (illustration on the left)
Color Studies
Final Color Script
Character Design
Some of the early attempts made by a variety of Artists. Fatima, Mayar, and Diya. We first thought of the character as male, but then we moved to a more feminine ambitious character. Character alludes to a desert traveler who has some film elements wrapped around it, inspired by the character in the Journey game.
Character Sketch by the Director
The Final Character look!
Background Guides for the Artists
Some of my notes for Jihad to reach the final look for the project.
The Final Backgrounds
Brilliant work done by Jihad who was a beast on this project and did these backgrounds in record time.
Animation
Animation was the toughest part. We had to circle between four different artists on some of the shots to reach the quality needed. We hired so many animators who worked tirelessly on each shot. Sketching, inking, cleaning up, and coloring finally. In total we had 14 animators working on this project.
In terms of compositing and final VFX animation the great Raji Shalabi worked with extreme passion and effectiveness. I made him multiple guides to him follow and the Result was incredible.
The most important moment!
Credits
