NODE FEST OPENING TITLES
Never Sit Still was invited to create the opening titles for Node Fest 2024, Australia’s leading motion design event.
Our challenge was to produce something distinctly our own while pushing the boundaries of our craft.
The result was a narrative-driven film inspired by the often chaotic search for originality. Following a designer consumed by experimentation and overthinking, the story explores the tension between complexity and simplicity, ultimately arriving at a familiar creative truth: sometimes the best ideas have been there all along.
Credits
Event — Node Fest
Client — Yes Captain
Animation Studio — Never Sit Still
Music & Sound Design — Smith & Western
Composition — Scott Langley
Trumpet Performances — Dane Laboyrie
Trombone Performances — Nigel Crocker
Saxophone Performances — Scott Langley
OUR FAVOURITE SHOT
ELEMENTS:
KEY VISUALS
Selected clips from the title sequence.
MUSIC
This story was brought to life by an original jazz score from Smith & Western, produced in collaboration with renowned musicians. Their dynamic performances brought an extra layer of energy and depth, perfectly matching the piece’s mix of chaos and clarity.
STYLEFRAMES
A selection of still compositions showcasing the overall look and feel of the opening titles.
PROCESS:
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
An exploration of motion tests developed throughout the process of defining the Node opening titles. From early animation explorations through to the refined motion piece, the R&D phase helped shape an identity designed to be a mix of chaos and clarity.
BEHIND THE SCENES
A combination of techniques from cel, to 2D, 3D and combining them together.
LOOK DEVELOPMENT
We had a lot of fun pushing typography animation to the edge, creating visuals that were deliberately chaotic and borderline unsightly, to encourage the audience to think about what “good design” really means, and to reflect on the messiness and beauty of experimentation.
STORYBOARDS
Sketch boards for select frames.
APPLICATION:
EVENT
Speaker walk-on animations and custom merch design.
