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Foundation to Functional: Motion Graphics & Ad Design (The Ads Project)

Client Project: The Tannenbaum’s Hot Sauce Competition

1 Client Consultation & Asset Acquisition: The owner of Tannenbaum’s Hot Sauce served as the primary stakeholder, presenting his brand vision and providing a library of raw assets. These included influencer testimonials, long-form television footage, and a diverse range of marketing slogans.

2 Multi-Source Content Strategy: Students integrated supplied media with original content created during in-class photography and video studio sessions. To provide additional “lifestyle” footage, I documented the hot sauce in home-use culinary applications, giving students a wide variety of “b-roll” for their final edits.

3 Iterative Feedback Loop: Maintaining a professional client-agency dynamic, Mr. Tannenbaum returned for a mid-project critique. This session allowed students to present initial drafts and make targeted improvements based on direct client feedback regarding brand tone and impact.

4 Final Pitch & Merit Awards: In the final stage, students presented a diverse range of video advertisements. The client selected two winning pieces that best captured the brand’s identity, awarding each student a $50 monetary prize for their professional excellence.

Student Winner: Grace Canally

Grace Canally’s award-winning advertisement demonstrates a keen understanding of current social media trends and audience engagement. Recognizing the power of “reaction compilations” on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, Grace repurposed influencer assets provided by the client to create a fast-paced, high-energy video.

Key Technical & Creative Achievements:

Real-World Credit: In addition to the monetary award, Grace secured a high-value link and professional credit from the client to bolster her industry demo reel and resume.

Trend-Forward Content: Grace identified and implemented a “reaction compilation” strategy, selecting the most impactful influencer clips to build brand excitement.

Dynamic Editing: By utilizing rhythmic speed-ramping and humor-driven sound design, she created a “cheeky” and memorable brand personality for Tannenbaum’s Hot Sauce.

Professional Outcomes: The client selected Grace’s video as the $50 grand prize winner, integrating her work into his official social media channels.

Foundation to Functional: From Story Boards to Final Animation

Student’s Personal Projects

1 Cinematic Foundations & Storyboarding: Students master professional shot types and visual storytelling by hand-sketching comprehensive storyboards. This stage emphasizes planning technical transitions and character placement before moving into production.

2 Asset Creation & Technical Pipeline: Students develop high-fidelity assets, including custom vector characters designed from scratch. They implement industry-standard file-naming conventions and professional project organization within After Effects to ensure a seamless post-production workflow.

3 Animation & Dynamic Sound: Using advanced keyframing, students animate their custom characters and environments while integrating synchronized sound design. This phase focuses on the principles of timing, weight, and auditory impact to enhance the narrative.

4 Professional Mastering & Output: The final phase focuses on technical delivery, requiring students to export their work using specific file types and high-efficiency compression codecs (e.g., H.264/HEVC) suitable for client-facing eCommerce and social platforms.

A series of hand-drawn storyboard panels by Ariel Abbott depicting a narrative sequence of a parakeet character meeting a new companion. The sketches showcase professional cinematic shot types and expressive character poses used as a blueprint for a motion graphics animation.
Page 1: Ariel Abbott | Motion Graphics Storyboards: Introduction & Parakeet Character Study (Page 1) | 2025
A series of hand-drawn storyboard panels by Ariel Abbott depicting a narrative sequence of a parakeet character meeting a new companion. The sketches showcase professional cinematic shot types and expressive character poses used as a blueprint for a motion graphics animation.
Page 2: Ariel Abbott | Motion Graphics Storyboards: Establishing the Environment (Page 2) | 2025
A series of hand-drawn storyboard panels by Ariel Abbott depicting a narrative sequence of a parakeet character meeting a new companion. The sketches showcase professional cinematic shot types and expressive character poses used as a blueprint for a motion graphics animation.
Page 3: Ariel Abbott | Motion Graphics Storyboards: Introduction & Parakeet Character Study (Page 3) | 2025
A series of hand-drawn storyboard panels by Ariel Abbott depicting a narrative sequence of a parakeet character meeting a new companion. The sketches showcase professional cinematic shot types and expressive character poses used as a blueprint for a motion graphics animation.
Page 4: Ariel Abbott | Motion Graphics Storyboards: Medium & Close-Up Shot Transitions (Page 4) | 2025
A series of hand-drawn storyboard panels by Ariel Abbott depicting a narrative sequence of a parakeet character meeting a new companion. The sketches showcase professional cinematic shot types and expressive character poses used as a blueprint for a motion graphics animation.
Page 5: Ariel Abbott | Motion Graphics Storyboards: Climactic Narrative Beats (Page 5) | 2025
A series of hand-drawn storyboard panels by Ariel Abbott depicting a narrative sequence of a parakeet character meeting a new companion. The sketches showcase professional cinematic shot types and expressive character poses used as a blueprint for a motion graphics animation.
Page 6: Ariel Abbott | Motion Graphics Storyboards: Resolution & Emotional Impact (Page 6) | 2025
A series of hand-drawn storyboard panels by Ariel Abbott depicting a narrative sequence of a parakeet character meeting a new companion. The sketches showcase professional cinematic shot types and expressive character poses used as a blueprint for a motion graphics animation.
Page 7: Ariel Abbott | Motion Graphics Storyboards: Conclusion & Final Framing (Page 7) | 2025
Ariel Abbott | Final Motion Graphics Animation: Parakeet Romance | 00:54 | After Effects & iPad Illustration | 2026

Student Spotlight: Ariel Abbott

Ariel Abbott’s work demonstrates a high level of narrative planning and cross-platform technical execution. For this project, she developed a charming story featuring a parakeet character finding a new companion and falling in love.

Her process highlights a strong master of the animation process.

Digital Character Illustration: Transitioning from paper to iPad to create high-fidelity, polished final character designs.

Analog Narrative Planning: Hand-sketching comprehensive storyboards to map out cinematic shot types and emotional character beats.

Technical Execution: Implementing professional file-naming and organization within Adobe Premiere Pro for final animation production.