Petra Ex Machina

Through a 10 plus minute animated pilot/short, I delve into the chaotic world of Petra ex Machina, a rock band facing creative hurdles. My goal was twofold: to finish a project of ambitious scope in under 10 months and to bring the laughter and smiles that have been given to me by the many shows and indie animations I’ve looked up to my whole life. The concept, centered on the creative process and bonds both familial and platonic, is brought to life through the hyper-cartoony visuals and comedic violence. Characters, each with unique traits, drive the story and comedy forward, offering viewers a glimpse into their chaotic yet endearing world, hopefully leaving them wishing for more. Influenced by personal experiences with religion and the complexity of forgiveness, my project rebels through its portrayal of hellish imagery intertwined with rock culture. Utilizing both digital 3D and 2D animation in Blender and Procreate Dreams, I aimed to streamline production in the hopes to find a good balance between efficiency and quality, while infusing the narrative with humor and heart. Behind the scenes, extensive solo work from scripting, storyboarding, 3d animating, 2d hand drawn animation to even directing actors culminated in a labor of love, rooted in years of my love for storytelling and the world of animation that I hope can be enjoyed by all.