How Graduation Projects Are Made: From Idea to Realization
Creating animation for the legendary Pink Floyd is no ordinary task. For our students, this project became a unique opportunity to work on high-quality production and test their skills in real-world animation industry conditions. Over the course of six months, the team transformed an abstract idea into a fully realized music video for the song Brain Damage, going through all stages of production – from script to final compositing.
This was not just a school project but a full-fledged professional experience, requiring precision, teamwork, and constant problem-solving. Each student felt the pressure of deadlines and the responsibility of creating a product that met the highest standards – exactly the kind of challenges animators face in the industry.
How the Idea for the Pink Floyd Video Came About
Typically, graduation projects are short videos, lasting about one minute. However, with the Pink Floyd project, things turned out differently. Sasha Shtern, a student in the classical 2D animation course, proposed the idea of creating a video for Brain Damage as part of a competition marking the 50th anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon album. Roger Waters, the album’s author, explained that the theme of madness in the song was based on the story of Syd Barrett, one of the band’s founders, who couldn’t cope with the wave of success and psychological pressure. This inspired Sasha to develop her own concept.
Sasha Shtern, director of the video: «I was interested in the competition. I listened to the songs from the album and chose Brain Damage. The song gave me the idea that we lock ourselves in a cage of consciousness, numb ourselves with drugs and alcohol, and eventually lose our sanity, becoming disconnected in our own minds.»
The concept was met with enthusiasm, and the team quickly decided to move forward. The project’s mentor was Edward Kurchevsky, a professor, director, and 2D animator who works on both feature films and short projects in Europe.
Stages of Work on the Animated Music Video
Collective Brainstorming and Visualizing the Idea
The process of working on the Pink Floyd video was a real professional challenge. The students began with a collective brainstorming session, during which the proposed concept was visualized through four characters, each representing different aspects of the human psyche – emotions, logic, instincts, and fear. This metaphorical foundation became the backbone of the narrative, opening up limitless creative possibilities.
Creating Storyboards and Visual Language
Once the idea was approved, the team moved on to creating storyboards and developing the visual language. Every frame had to support the emotional line, with composition, perspective, and character placement being tested until the scenes worked both on paper and in motion.
Character Design
Character design became one of the most important parts of the work. The video featured three main characters: Ovosh (blue), symbolizing depression and apathy; Starshiy (pink), completely detached; and Melkiy (red), representing the inner child and dangerous, undeveloped energy.
Sasha Shtern, director of the video: «The idea of the boy came from the thought that if we don’t reconcile with our inner child and let it express itself, it destroys everything around.»
For each character, colors were chosen to reflect their emotional states. For example, Ovosh embodied loss, while Melkiy represented powerful and dangerous energy. It was also important to create an environment symbolizing drugs and the «flower of oblivion» – poppy flowers growing from the character’s head, and a child running across a field, symbolizing destruction.
Animation and Effects
After the animation and effects were completed, the project moved to the final stage – compositing, where all elements were combined to create the desired atmosphere and add depth. The students worked in Adobe After Effects, perfecting the scenes and adding the final touches.
How This Work Helped the Students
The project became not only an academic task but also an important step in the development of professional skills. The students learned how to work in a team, solve real production problems, and work under the pressure of deadlines. It was an opportunity to create a unique portfolio, which has now become their ticket into the animation industry.
Many of them encountered real production conditions for the first time, which gave them insight into what it means to be an animator responsible for the final product.
The Pink Floyd animated music video project became an important milestone in the students’ education, giving them a unique opportunity to apply their knowledge in real-world production conditions. This experience not only became the key to creating an outstanding portfolio but also an important step in developing skills that will be in demand in the animation industry.
If you aim to produce a short film akin to this example, participate in our <<Visual Development Course for Short Film Creation>>. This course is a substantial artistic undertaking centered around a singular project. Within this program, both practicing and aspiring 2D animators, artists, and composers come together in teams and navigate the production pipeline on a collective project. Each session of the course entails developing a new project from inception to ultimate presentation, starting entirely from the ground up.
