Deta Surf
I collaborated with Deta Surf to create hand-drawn animations and illustrations inspired by Studio Ghibli's aesthetic. The goal was to convey a soft, approachable identity for their AI-integrated browser, deviating from the typical tech-centric visuals to emphasize nature, manual craftsmanship, and wholesomeness.
Roles
Tools
Teaser Video
The teaser video is created for Deta's new product announcement, which is an AI-integrated web browser. I worked on all aspects of the animation, including the world design of the main character Zoe and her sister, backgrounds, character designs, and props, featuring a paper plane, a bike. The visual style is mainly inspired by the Studio Ghibli movie My Neighbor Totoro, that expressed itself in the character design and backgrounds.
Product Launch Video
The product launch video represents a longer animation in combination with the teaser animation for the product release. The world of the main character Zoe is expanded, featuring old and new computer designs as well as traditional and corporate-like buildings to symbolise the evolution of the internet. Additionally, I designed the storyboard from the clients script and created all backgrounds, animations, and assets, as wells as the VoiceOver for the video.
Website Illustrations
I worked on developing four distinct character designs for the website to visually represent the browser's key features. The concepts are inspired by Studio Ghibli's magical aesthetic, with a focus on creating approachable, symbolic, and playful representations of the browser's AI-powered functionality, rather than overtly tech-focused.
Bookmark Management
To represent the function of the browser to save and categorize bookmarks, a multi-functional magical bag with a mini panda helper living inside of it is created. Bag is chosen since it is a storage way that one can carry around anywhere they like and have everything under their arm when needed, inline with the philosophy of the bookmark functionality. Mini panda character that lives inside the bag searches through tiny drawers using its four arms, representing bookmark folders, to find and deliver answers from the drawers.
AI Chat
A wise, spiritual elephant character serves as the AI assistant, communicating with the boy through a playful medium: paper cups connected by string. The elephant represents wisdom and emotional intelligence, while the use of paper cups makes the interaction more human, fun, and non-techy. The goal was to reflect trust, simplicity, and companionship in the relationship between user and AI.
Highlight and Ask AI
A character holding a magical prism is designed to symbolize the function of asking AI questions based on highlighted text, images, or elements on a webpage. When the prism is used, it reveals abstract spirits and visions, representing the ability to see beyond the surface and gain more understanding through the AI chat functionality.
Bookmark Search
The panda character doubles as the symbol for saving and categorizing bookmarks and finding them later. The panda's four arms allow it to sort through drawers quickly and efficiently, symbolising organizational capabilities of the bookmark function of the browser, as well as the ability to filter answers in the saved bookmarks through the use of AI. The panda is featured in a short animated clip showcasing its ability to search and retrieve saved bookmarks.
