Animation & Motion Design
Rachel Dempsey
Manifestation
‘Manifestation’ is a short-animated film about the anxiety and dread associated with committing to therapy. Kim is committed to the idea of therapy, but her fears manifest themselves into the form of a black cat. Gradually the cat pesters her to get ready for her appointment. At first, she is reluctant, but she experiences more and more anxiety the closer it gets to her having to leave. She inevitably snaps in rage at the cat and claims that therapy can’t help; defeated by the belief that she is broken. Through venting to the cat, Kim comes to the realisation that it may be time to go through with it.
I created this animation in ToonBoom Harmony, ranging between use of thin vector lines to create a crisp aesthetic and the use of messy scribbles to represent the characters fear and dread. After Effects allowed me to create a further sense of dread when Kim’s anxiety increases with vignettes and sharp cuts.