Bringing the McMillions Story to Life

As part of my Master's program in Motion Graphics and Cinema 4D at La Basad University, I undertook the challenge of creating opening credits for McMillions, an HBO documentary directed by James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte. The documentary uncovers the fascinating story of a multi-million-dollar fraud targeting McDonald’s Monopoly game in the 1990s. This project allowed me to combine storytelling, animation, and visual design to highlight a tale of deception, investigation and justice.

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Styleframes and Storyboard: Building the Narrative

The foundation of this project was laid with detailed research and careful planning:

1. Styleframes: After analyzing McDonald’s iconic design elements from the 1990s, I created three key styleframes that defined the visual identity of the credits. These frames showcased the chosen textures, typography, and color palette.
2. Storyboard: The narrative structure was meticulously outlined in a storyboard featuring 15 panels—three for each of the five scenes. These depicted the beginning, development, and conclusion of each moment in the sequence.

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The Creative Process: From Concept to Completion

Every stage of production was designed to ensure a seamless workflow and a high-quality result:

1. Research & Analysis: Watching the documentary and researching McDonald’s brand assets from the 1990s.
2. Moodboards: Compiling inspiration for illustration, texture, animation, and typography.
3. Style Development: Selecting the color palette and typography to set the tone.
4. Storyboard Creation: Drafting a detailed storytelling framework for approval.
5. Animatic: Developing a rough animation to establish timing and transitions.
6. Final Production: Designing scenes in Illustrator, then texturizing, animating, and integrating them in After Effects to produce the final video.

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This project showcases my ability to transform complex narratives into visually compelling motion graphics, combining research, creativity, and technical skill. If you're looking for a passionate Motion Designer to bring your stories to life, feel free to get in touch with me. Together, we can create captivating visuals that resonate with your audience!