THIS AMERICAN LIFE: BREAKUP

CONCEPT

This project explores how emotions spread, evolve, and heal over time. It delves into negative emotions like breakups, and how they are a part of personal growth. It also discusses creating something beautiful from tragedies. The ultimate goal is to create a visual trailer or advertisement for an episode of "This American Life" that showcases the main character's journey of overcoming difficulties and inner turmoil.

STORY

In this episode of "This American Life," the host shares her personal experience with grief and the emotional process she went through to overcome it. The writer Starlee Kine also discusses what qualities make a perfect break-up song, and whether listening to sad music can actually help one feel better. Additionally, the episode features an eight-year-old author who wrote a book about divorce, along with other heart-wrenching stories about heartbreak.

MOODBOARD INSPIRATION STORYBOARD

Moodboard based on ink and textures

Fascinated by how seamlessly the podcast transitions between stories, and how authentic and natural each presenter sounds. This creates a powerful and lasting impression on their audience. As a result, I decided to experiment with ink, since it behaves in the same way as the narratives - fluid and airy, yet always leaving a mark.

Ink and Texture style references

"The podcast format requires us to listen to the entire story to fully grasp its narrative arc. This creates a sense of journey, as if we are tracing the ink through twists and turns, trying to anticipate how each story will conclude.

Early Storyboard Developement

While storyboarding, I realized that breakup stories go beyond sad songs or bad experiences. They are also about the people who narrate them.

PRODUCTION PROCESS

Exploring various mixed media relations, individual mediums, drawing styles, and manipulation techniques to create a cohesive design

Testing Digital Inkpens

While using Clip Studio Paint, I experimented with the various brushes and customized their designs to achieve a natural watercolor or traditional fountain pen effect.

Creating Inkblots

After experimenting with different types of paper and ink, I discovered that varying fibers, hot or cold presses, and thicknesses create unique patterns when making Rorschach inkblots. These inkblots are later scanned as part of the digital assets.

Realistic Rendering Illustration

To recreate the narrative's feel, I incorporated realistic rendering in my illustration. Each hatching serves both as shading to create more volume and representation of the hosts' journey through their breakups.

Combining

Combining digitized inkblots, illustrations, and photobashing, then using customized ink and watercolor brushes from Clip Studio in Photoshop to create a flower petal design.

Exploring Kaleidescopes

Using After Effects, I created 127 kaleidoscope patterns with 3 types of petals. Then picking out the best option that conveys a strong visuals in both the negative and positive spaces.