By placing them into real world environments, and creating a sense of agency through their subtle interaction with the camera, the girls are brought back into reality, and are given a chance to be more than just props.
Process
The project started as a series of illustrations of the back up dancers in everyday environments to show a different areas of their lives. The project started as a series of illustrations of the back up dancers in everyday environments to show a different areas of their lives.
Character Designs
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/42d0185924bdaebdd0c513c49486284d/a2a5735e-dac1-42a8-b116-d965eb7cd0bc_rw_1920.jpg?h=57e607164082cc3edbe02c7bd466dfc6)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/42d0185924bdaebdd0c513c49486284d/cd8f8805-2831-4a01-9489-6b29adbe868c_rw_1920.jpg?h=301c0bd41b4ece5ba15ff187d97a17ab)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/42d0185924bdaebdd0c513c49486284d/87e44d54-01e8-4f18-8710-a5df1e71397c_rw_1920.jpg?h=f9b4de90a5894dee58da7a32c891db5b)
Details simplified for animation
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/42d0185924bdaebdd0c513c49486284d/f1f64be7-bf3d-47d2-93b5-f989bf06ca26_rw_1920.jpg?h=f3d1bba74d019c7bab7a40c63a932f09)
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/42d0185924bdaebdd0c513c49486284d/ce6595c0-94d5-4c66-abfc-11302711297f_rw_1920.jpg?h=87969172e288b8e007c403c8c14f9edc)
To emphasize the environment and to bring more life into their lives, a video background was added.
In the end, instead of placing the filmed video into the illustration, placing the girls into a real environment gave a better impression that they were more than just characters that exist on stage.
I decided to use footage from my family trips to China and Japan, to add a more intimate feeling. So that the girls can exist in places that are more than just tourist locations.