AHRO – Cutscene Animation Series
About the Game
AHRO is an atmospheric, combat-free, side-scrolling adventure set in a world filled with deep lore and quiet mystery. The game focuses on providing players with space for reflection and interpretation, encouraging them to engage with its environments and story at their own pace.
Creative Direction & Style Guide
The developer’s vision for the cutscenes was to create a series of “establishing shot” moments—simple, still-frame animations that act as zen-like transitions between game levels.
While the visual style needed to stay true to the game’s art, the cutscenes were designed to stand apart with their own tone, drawing inspiration from Samurai Jack and 90s computer adventure games.
Key creative goals included:
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Mostly still-frame sequences with limited motion.
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Use of panning, zooming, and transitions to build atmosphere.
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A slightly jittery, staccato motion style, adding texture to the character’s journey.
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Low frame rate (7 FPS) to emphasize a chunky, stylized aesthetic.
My Role & Process
I animated eight cutscenes, covering Levels 1 through 5, focusing on environment-driven storytelling—lots of slow uphill climbs, still landscapes, and subtle movements.
To streamline production, I created a looping walk cycle rig that I could easily adjust to fit each scene’s terrain or objective. This allowed me to quickly match the motion to the game’s heavy, still environments while keeping production efficient.
Background Illustration & Scene Design
In addition to animation, I collaborated with the developer to illustrate custom backgrounds for each cutscene. Each backdrop was designed to transition players from one level to the next, featuring terrain changes, color shifts, and environmental details that reflected the journey toward the mountainous miracle cure.
