Bobbis Pizza
For this project, I collaborated with Box 8 Creative using illustrations designed by Hayden Gaillard for Bobbi’s Pizza in New Haven. My goal was to capture the playful, illustrative quality of Hayden’s artwork and bring it to life through motion! I animated the characters and design elements in a way that emphasized their handcrafted style, focusing on smooth transitions, expressive movement, and timing that matched the brand’s fun, inviting personality. This project gave me the opportunity to merge static illustration with dynamic storytelling, transforming flat visuals into an engaging animation that feels energetic and authentic to the Bobbi’s Pizza brand.
[Client]
Bobbi's Detroit Style Pizza
[Year]
2025
[Services]
Animation
I approached this project as a collaboration between illustration and motion design. The existing illustration already had a strong character, so my focus was on amplifying it with timing, anticipation, and rhythm.
Design Foundation: I worked directly with Hayden’s illustration assets, carefully separating layers to prepare them for motion. The challenge was maintaining the hand-drawn quality while making the piece dynamic.
Motion Principles: Using bounce effects, and subtle easing, I animated the logo elements to feel alive and inviting, mirroring the warm, welcoming vibe of a pizza shop.
Tools & Techniques: Built in After Effects, I used shape layer transformations and keyframe interpolation to create smooth, organic movement. Pre-compositions helped structure the project so elements could be controlled independently without losing cohesion.
Final Touches: I fine tuned speed and easing so the animation has a sense of personality snappy where it needed emphasis, smooth where it needed flow.
Reflection
This project was an exercise in bringing illustration into motion without losing its essence. It taught me how to strike a balance between respecting an artist’s original work and enhancing it through animation to create a memorable brand moment.
