Ethereal 2D Projection Motion Design
Budget: $3,000 – $5,000 USD
I’m producing a 5-6 min. cinematic storytelling experience that will play on a scrim, so the visuals must feel spacious and dimensional even though they are built entirely in 2D. The tone is unmistakably ethereal: dust, light, and texture float, swell, and dissolve in slow-moving vignettes that occasionally shift to a slightly quicker cadence for emotional lift. There are no characters, dialogue, logos, or explainer graphics—just pure abstraction constructed from layered particles, subtle silhouettes, and gentle volumetric lighting.
Words I'd use to describe it: Intimate, Cinematic, suspenseful, dream like, ethereal, atmospheric, masculine yet emotional, minimalistic, intensity
What we are not: Scary, a spectacle
You are not simply showing what happened — you are showing what it felt like.
Overall: we want to create awe and wonder.
Technically: 2D projection
Perceptually: 3D illusion
The job is to design and animate a seamless sequence that can hold attention on a large-scale projection surface. Think of the reference piece (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQqvTj_bpEU) as a guide to atmosphere, not a storyboard to copy. Depth must be implied through parallax, opacity shifts, and particle movement; every frame should read clearly when blown up and viewed through haze.
Deliverables
• One high-resolution video file (ProRes or lossless codec) suitable for edge-to-edge projection
• A matching loopable version if the main piece is not intended to loop cleanly
• All working project files (After Effects, Photoshop, or similar) with organized layers and assets for any last-minute tweaks on my end
Acceptance criteria
• Visual mood feels consistently ethereal and never drifts into overt melancholy or heavy drama
• Dust, light, and texture are the dominant graphic elements throughout
• Pacing varies naturally but never breaks the contemplative flow; no abrupt cuts or fast strobe-like sections
• Final render plays back smoothly at the target resolution with no banding or particle artefacts
If your reel already shows mastery of abstract particle work, subtle lighting, and minimal composition, this brief should feel like home.
Attached is a rough script.
Words I'd use to describe it: Intimate, Cinematic, suspenseful, dream like, ethereal, atmospheric, masculine yet emotional, minimalistic, intensity
What we are not: Scary, a spectacle
You are not simply showing what happened — you are showing what it felt like.
Overall: we want to create awe and wonder.
Technically: 2D projection
Perceptually: 3D illusion
The job is to design and animate a seamless sequence that can hold attention on a large-scale projection surface. Think of the reference piece (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQqvTj_bpEU) as a guide to atmosphere, not a storyboard to copy. Depth must be implied through parallax, opacity shifts, and particle movement; every frame should read clearly when blown up and viewed through haze.
Deliverables
• One high-resolution video file (ProRes or lossless codec) suitable for edge-to-edge projection
• A matching loopable version if the main piece is not intended to loop cleanly
• All working project files (After Effects, Photoshop, or similar) with organized layers and assets for any last-minute tweaks on my end
Acceptance criteria
• Visual mood feels consistently ethereal and never drifts into overt melancholy or heavy drama
• Dust, light, and texture are the dominant graphic elements throughout
• Pacing varies naturally but never breaks the contemplative flow; no abrupt cuts or fast strobe-like sections
• Final render plays back smoothly at the target resolution with no banding or particle artefacts
If your reel already shows mastery of abstract particle work, subtle lighting, and minimal composition, this brief should feel like home.
Attached is a rough script.
Related categories:
Animation
Illustration
3D Modelling
3D Animation
2D Animation
Motion Design
Visual Effects
Adobe Photoshop