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Director's Note:

Halcyon Days was inspired by my desire to have a healthy work-life balance post-graduation. I want to pursue a career where I love my job and enjoy meals with family and friends.

My main focus for this film was on believable and effective character acting through animation alongside rich color and magical effects through the post-production process.

Kuiper

Java (bird) leads the audience to meet Kuiper, who watches over the city. I wanted him to interact with her in a calm, subtle manner.

Overlay masks, glows, noise filters, and drop shadows in After Effects were utilized to create a warm look despite cooler hues.

Ferdiad

Holds through the shot give a feeling of focus, with subtle eye darts & limited movement. The first few seconds contrast with the intro of Kuiper (star) into the shot, so his body language changes.

Overlay masks, glows, noise filters, and drop shadows in After Effects were utilized to create a magical and animated cel look.

Isadora

Body language is a mix of semantic magic + subtle ballet-like movements, giving the illusion of flowing water. Hand-drawn FX animation leading into the fish was ideal for this shot.

Displacement maps, 3D effects, overlay masks, glows, and noise filters were utilized to achieve a bright, glowing look.

Alethea

An emphasis on hands & eyes in this shot was used to mimic focus/unbroken focus. The timing and use of blinks give subtle cues to what the character is looking at/thinking.

Overlay masks, glows, noise filters, and drop shadows in After Effects were utilized to create a magical and animated cel look.