01
Find the world in the song.
The work began with the song and its lyrics. Research became a script, concept art, and storyboards, giving the band a clear sense of the story before production.
Replacire
Do Not Deviate
Optical illusions, impossible forms, and a ritual in a world of its own.
Animated music video
ContributionConcept, storyboards & animation
Replacire / Animated music videoWatch on YouTube — opens in a new tab
The idea
A dark animated music video for Replacire. With creative freedom from the band, I developed a story shaped by optical illusions, Escher, and ritual imagery.
Behind the work
Production notes.
02
Make the impossible feel tangible.
Optical illusions and Escher sketches informed the imagery. Bone-like forms, an eyeless cleric, and a jawbone dagger gave the world a deliberately unsettling visual language.
03
Build the film, frame by frame.
Drawings, photographs, and collage elements were gathered and animated in After Effects. The storyboard wall kept the sequence visible throughout production.
The original production notes
The full story
behind the work.
The original account has been preserved and reformatted for this site. The production discussion follows the song and finished work without reproducing a full lyric sheet.
01 / Process log
Creative freedom with a serious tone
A conversation with Replacire established the general direction before the band handed over full creative freedom. The song stayed on repeat while research became a story, script, concept art, and four storyboard sheets. Unlike several earlier projects, the world avoids humour and comic easter eggs; it remains ritualistic and hostile throughout.
02 / Process log
Bones, scars, and a jawblade
The central form was designed from degraded, porous bones. The cleric had removed his own eyes, leaving scars that connect his history to the ritual. A sacrificial dagger joins jaw bones to a metal blade. These recurring materials let impossible objects feel as if they belong to one physical culture.
03 / Process log
Breaking the picture plane
A wall-sized storyboard and separate shot list organised photographs, references, drawings, collages, and animation layers. Optical illusions and M. C. Escher informed the unstable space. Everything was assembled in After Effects so the wall, figures, and ritual could reveal and contradict one another through motion.
Complete original process archive
From first signal
to final frame.
Every available still and animated study from the published process notes, reorganised as a production log.
01 / Song, band, freedom
Receive the signal
A conversation with the band established the broad direction, then left the visual concept completely open. The track stayed on repeat while research and story ideas accumulated.
02 / Story and concept art
Design the ritual
The story, script and early concept drawings defined a serious, hostile world. The central shape was built from porous, degraded bones; the cleric’s missing eyes and scarred face made the ritual personal.
03 / Storyboards
Plan every frame
Four boards translated the script into a precise visual sequence before the band approved production.
04 / Shot list and asset build
Assemble the wall
Reference photographs, drawings and collages were gathered into a shot list. The wall was developed as a living surface, and the sacrificial dagger combined jaw bones with a metal blade.
05 / Animation and compositing
Break the illusion
Optical illusions and Escher-like spatial breaks disturb the image while layered After Effects animation brings the wall, bones and ritual to life. These five passes complete the original process record.
Project details
Replacire
Interceptor Beyond / Concept, storyboards & animation
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Multicolor Desert
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