Project: Ode to Wrigley Field

The Project
Back in 2019, while working full-time at AgPhD, I jumped at an opportunity to freelance at Sarofsky in Chicago. The project was a holiday-themed 3D animated Christmas card titled Ode to Wrigley Field, channeling the retro charm of classic stop-motion holiday specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and The Year Without a Santa Claus. Though the role was for a junior-level animator—below my usual skillset—I saw it as a chance to work with a studio I admired and expand my portfolio. So, I cashed in all my vacation time, booked an Airbnb, and drove to Chicago.

The Concept
The animation aimed to evoke nostalgia, combining 3D characters with textured, painted-style backgrounds reminiscent of 1970s claymation. The challenge? Merging modern animation techniques with a handcrafted, vintage aesthetic.

My Contribution

1. 2D Background Illustration
   As a 2D animator in a predominantly 3D project, I started where I could add the most value. My first task was to illustrate the iconic Wrigley Field as a painted backdrop. This added a textured, handmade feel to complement the retro aesthetic. The background brought the holiday vibes together, creating a perfect foundation for the animated scenes.

2. Frame-by-Frame Snow Swirl Transitions
   One of my favorite contributions was animating the snow swirl transitions. Initially, I planned to use Trapcode Particular to generate flowing particle effects. But the look felt too modern—too smooth—for the claymation vibe we were after. So, I decided to go old-school, animating the swirls frame by frame.

   • I started in Photoshop by sketching the swirl’s path over a screenshot of the scene lockup.

   • Using traditional animation principles of timing and spacing, I created the sequence frame by frame, animating on twos for that slightly choppy, nostalgic feel.

   • Once complete, I exported the PNG sequence and handed it off to the editor to integrate into the project.

   The result was a set of handcrafted snow transitions that perfectly matched the vintage aesthetic.

Challenges and Adaptations
As the project progressed, Chicago was hit with a major blizzard, threatening my travel plans to get home to my family. After discussing with the producer, we decided to end my contract a few days early so I could drive home safely. Once back, I got a call from Sarofsky: the artist taking over couldn’t figure out how I’d created the swirls. When I explained they were done frame by frame, we had a good laugh before they got back to work.

Unfortunately, some scenes required last-minute changes, and the snow swirls had to be recreated using Trapcode Particular for the revisions. However, you can still see my original, hand-drawn swirls in the opening and closing scenes, as well as my Wrigley Field background.

The Takeaway
This project not only pushed my creative limits but also deepened my appreciation for blending traditional animation techniques with modern tools. It was an absolute blast to work with the talented Sarofsky team and soak in the creative energy of Chicago. The experience left me inspired and grateful for the chance to contribute to such a unique and nostalgic project.

A Final Thank You
Thank you to Sarofsky for trusting me with this opportunity. It’s a memory I’ll always cherish—and it made me fall in love with Chicago and your incredible team.