The Process

Initially EPDS consisted of a series of brochures, diagrams, and 3D illustrations explaining the process. However, at some point, Covance wanted a full 3D video that they could use to explain and also market their services. We created an almost 100 page storyboard, and slowly set about creating each individual set and the characters that would take up space in these scenes. Essentially the process was: create the characters, create the scenes, animate the characters, properly place the characters in 3D space, then render all scenes and composite in After Effects. If you look closely at the beginning scene, you’ll notice a real life human (me) getting turned into the main 3D character as he walks throughout the whole video with a molecule in hand. I was quite inexperienced at this point, and as such the creation of this whole video took roughly 5/6 months with a fat $5,000 charge in rendering fees. If I had to do this project again, I would do it completely differently. I’m sure i could finish it in less that a quarter of the time it took with much better animation, and with less than $500 in rendering fees. Although it was a rather painful project to work on, EPDS was pivotal in my career as a designer and animator.