— ROLE
Story Board
Style Frame Modelling
Animation (2d, 3d)
Sound Design
— SOFTWARE
Adobe After Effects
Cinema4D
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Audition
— LENGTH
4 months
Project Brief
This project is a promotional tourism ad for Aichi in Japan. Aichi is one of the largest prefectures in Japan and has exciting tourist resources, yet it isn't as popular as other areas of Japan. Through this video, I aim to increase Aichi's publicity and popularity. With the introduction of a new flight route between Japan and Vancouver in the spring of 2024, this was the perfect chance to target the ad at Vancouver residents looking for new travel destinations. Thus, Vancouver’s unique context and pain points were highlighted in this ad, with a flat design style that intrigues viewers and makes them feel closer to Aichi.
Planning
Before initiating this project, I established a structured scheduling system using Notion and Trello to stay organized. Notion provided an overview of the long-term timeline, while Trello enabled efficient tracking of daily tasks.
Research
Through my research into Aichi tourism, I discovered two significant points: first, a location in Aichi was chosen by Time magazine as one of the world’s 50 greatest places. Second, a Japanese airline launched a new flight route from Vancouver to Japan. These insights led me to select Vancouver residents as the target audience and highlight Aichi's unique appeal.
Story Structure
To make this project stand out from existing works, I tailored the narrative to resonate with the target audience by focusing on a specific context: Vancouver’s rainy season, using it as a relatable starting point.
Reference
To convey Aichi's vibrancy, I opted for a colourful palette. Softer hues were incorporated to create a warm and approachable feel for the audience. To further distinguish this project, I avoided live-action footage, instead selecting a flat graphic design style that evokes both familiarity and originality.
Storyboard and Animatic
Logo
As the call to action in the video, I created a custom logo. After several revisions, I aimed to capture Aichi’s playful spirit through colour and typeface. The colour was inspired by cherry blossom petals, and I chose a rounded typeface to enhance Aichi’s lively vibe. To make the message strong and clear, I titled the project "Visit Aichi!"
Production and Post Production
Challenge
Pre-Revisions
Post-Revisions
One month before the submission deadline, I completed a rough cut and sought feedback to prepare for the Final Cut. A significant amount of feedback pointed out that the quality of the section leading up to the introduction of Aichi was lacking. Through the feedback, I identified the illustrations and compositing as the main causes. However, improving the illustration quality at that stage was not feasible due to time constraints.
As a time-effective solution, I opted to revise the storyboard while reusing the existing illustrations. Additionally, I adjusted the style to align with the new storyboard, transitioning to a cinematic approach. This change emphasized the contrast between the rainy season in Vancouver and the vibrant landscapes of Aichi.