PTEN

Self-initiated study — motion design

Gorillaz motionstudy

Eight seconds of fast cuts, blur and sound, built around the four characters of the Demon Days cover.

  • TypeSelf-initiated study, non-commercial
  • RoleAnimation, effects, transitions, sound effects
  • ToolsClaude AI, After Effects
  • Format8 seconds, 1:1, 1080 × 1080
  • Year2026

The idea

A short animation that turns a still album cover into motion: the camera moves across a grid of the four characters, then punches into each one, with lyric captions running along the bottom.

How it moves

  • Grid to close-up

    The camera travels across the grid of characters and then pushes into each portrait in turn.

  • Blur and speed

    Fast zooms and motion blur carry each transition from one character to the next.

  • Effects and sound

    On top of the base animation, I added the special effects, the transitions and the sound effects.

From the grid to the close-ups.

The Demon Days cover: the four Gorillaz characters in a two-by-two grid of white frames on black
The four characters on the grid.
2-D in profile in a yellow wash, with the lyric caption "City's breaking down on a camel's back"
The camera punches into each portrait.
Murdoc in profile washed in yellow and red, a lyric caption along the bottom
Each character gets its own moment.

Process notes

I built the base animation with the help of AI, to move faster through the slow, repetitive steps such as separating the artwork into layers. Beyond the animation itself, it was a way to study how motion design and AI are coming together, something the industry is exploring right now. Once the base was in place, I added the effects, transitions, sound effects and the rest of the visual details.

Conceptual study piece, non-commercial. All artwork, music, lyrics and artists belong to their respective owners.

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