Exemplar

Creating movement that honours the story behind every frame.

Certain stories have the power to inspire generations, and this was one of those projects.

I was approached by the wonderful team at WestWind Pictures to help bring to life the story of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the son of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. Known for his life of service, humility, kindness and dedication to helping others, his example continues to inspire people around the world.

The animated sequences were created for Exemplar, a documentary commissioned by The Universal House of Justice. My role was to help translate key moments from his life into visual storytelling that could connect with audiences and support the emotional journey of the film.

This Animator's Cut brings together the animated sequences I created for the documentary. I feel deeply honoured to have been part of a project with such a meaningful purpose, and I hope you enjoy experiencing it.

The film featured several animated sequences, with the opening section presenting the greatest creative challenge.

It needed to introduce 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the world he grew up in, and the ideas that shaped his life, while creating an emotional connection with the audience from the very beginning.

To communicate more complex concepts, we used visual metaphors to make abstract ideas feel more accessible and engaging. The animatic became a crucial part of this process, allowing us to explore the story, pacing and visual language before moving into final production.

Many of the ideas established in the early animatic carried through to the finished film, highlighting the importance of this stage in shaping the final experience.

The goal was to create an animation that felt as though every frame had been painted by hand, while maintaining the movement and flexibility needed for storytelling.

Most of the animation was created in 3D, after which selected frames were digitally painted to establish the desired artistic style. These painted frames then became the foundation for developing the final look across the animation.

Created in 2020, this process allowed us to combine traditional artistic techniques with emerging technology to achieve a distinctive visual style that supported the story.