motion design Archives - Santasombra

Letters from André • André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever

Victor — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:22:21 +0000

Letter From André • André Leon Talley: Style Is Forever is a feature documentary about the life and legacy of fashion icon André Leon Talley. Produced by Savannah College of Art and Design, the film reflects on Talley’s cultural influence, personal history, and lasting impact on fashion, media, and visual culture.

My work on the project focused on developing the graphic language that supports the documentary’s narrative structure. During early development I contributed to the visual direction through mood boards, storyboards, exploratory reels, and motion design tests that helped define the tone and graphic system used throughout the film.

I also handled a range of visual effects and motion graphics work, including compositing, keying, tracking, and matte painting. These elements were used to integrate archival material, photography, and graphic components into a cohesive visual environment that supports the storytelling.

In addition to the VFX work, I designed and animated several graphic systems used across the documentary. This included title cards for dates, names, locations, and chapter transitions, as well as a set of animated triptych layouts used to present imagery and archival content. I also created a page turn visual motif that appears throughout the film, reinforcing the editorial and literary themes connected to Talley’s life and work.

Together these elements form a flexible visual framework that supports the documentary while allowing the story, voice, and cultural presence of André Leon Talley to remain at the center.

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Demo Reels • Motion Graphics & Generative AI Portfolio

Victor — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 17:00:09 +0000

Santasombra’s Demo-reels

Welcome, and thank you for visiting. This page features two curated demo reels that represent the core of my creative practice: motion graphics and generative AI.

The Motion Graphics reel brings together a selection of broadcast, branded, and freelance work developed over the years. It reflects a strong foundation in design, animation, compositing, and storytelling, with projects that move from concept through execution with clarity and craft.

The Generative AI reel expands this practice into emerging creative territory. It showcases work created using tools such as Figma Weavy, ImagineFlow (Meta), Midjen (Meta), Midjourney, Runway, Kling, ElevenLabs, HeyGen, ComfyUi, Stable Diffusion, Fal, Higgsfield, Wonder Dynamics, Freepik Studio, and other AI driven systems, integrated within traditional pipelines like After Effects and Premiere. These pieces explore new visual languages, rapid ideation workflows, and scalable content creation, where direction, prompting, and iteration become central to the creative process.

Together, these reels represent a hybrid approach that combines artistic intuition with technical systems. My process often moves fluidly between sketching, design, animation, and AI experimentation, allowing each project to evolve through both control and discovery. If you are interested in a deeper breakdown of specific projects or workflows, I am always open to sharing more. You can reach me at:
victor@santasombra.com

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Paris Olympics 2024 • NBC Opening Primetime in Paris Main Title

Victor — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 21:12:37 +0000

The Primetime in Paris main title served as the opening sequence for NBC’s primetime broadcast of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Designed by Imaginary Forces for NBC Olympics, the cinematic title sequence introduced each evening of Olympic coverage and established the visual tone for the Games across NBC and Peacock.

My role focused on compositing and preparing the athlete shots that appear throughout the sequence. A key requirement of the broadcast workflow was the ability to update the opening daily as new competitions and standout moments emerged across the Games. This meant integrating new athlete footage and disciplines quickly while maintaining visual continuity with the established design system.

To support this rapid turnaround pipeline, we built an AI assisted compositing workflow inside Adobe After Effects using the plugins Mask Prompter 3 and Lockdown 3. These tools allowed for faster rotoscoping, surface tracking, and precise compositing of athletes into the evolving sequence. The system made it possible to adapt the opening throughout the Games, ensuring that the title reflected the latest Olympic highlights and performances in near real time.

This production approach balanced cinematic design with broadcast practicality. The result was a dynamic opening that evolved throughout the Paris Games while preserving the visual identity developed by Imaginary Forces.

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Los Amores de una Bruja

Victor — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 16:09:35 +0000

Los Amores de una Bruja

I worked on a short film project at Veritas University in Costa Rica, directed by Jurgen Ureña. They brought me in as a Graphic and Motion Designer. What got me excited were two things: the experimental approach to visuals and using Generative AI as the main tool. It was a chance to try out some new tech and see what we could do with it.

For the AI stuff, I used Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, Runway, Topaz Gigapixel, and Adobe Firefly.

My work covered five main areas:

Making all the backgrounds: The whole movie was shot on green screen, so I had to create all the environments digitally.
Helping with character designs: I worked on how the characters would look to fit with the AI backgrounds.
Creating the overall look: This meant coming up with a style that would work for the whole film.
Designing movie posters: I made posters to show off what the film was about and its unique style.
Doing the title and credits: I designed and animated the opening and closing sequences.

Using AI for most of this was pretty interesting. It let us create some cool visuals that would’ve been hard to make otherwise. It was a good learning experience and pushed me to try new things in design and filmmaking.

Text prompts & look exploration

Characters development: “bruja mayor”, zombie & “bruja joven”

Spaces: the house, the forest and the beach

https://www.santasombra.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/SPACE-001-FULL-exterior-night-2048x1081-1.mp4

The movie poster, and 5 options

The movie title, and credits

Movie title Los Amores de una Bruja Movie credits Los Amores de una Bruja

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AI-Powered Analysis of Olympic Athletes’ Performances

Victor — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 20:58:02 +0000

AI-Powered Analysis of Olympic Athletes’ Performances

The challenge was to use AI to analyze the 100-meter performances of Usain Bolt from the 2008 Olympics and Fred Kerley from the 2023 Diamond League in Dubai. We would extract bone motion data from each athlete and apply these movements to 3D models. These models would be placed on a virtual 3D track, allowing us to see Bolt and Kerley side by side as if they were racing each other. For in-depth analysis, we would be able to pause the performance, zoom in on specific details such as knee height and stride length, and measure the distance between the athletes at 10-meter intervals throughout their respective 100-meter sprints.

Raw footage from NBC Olympics

Usain Bolt, 100-Meter Race from the 2008 Olympics In Beijing.

Fred Kerley, 100-Meter Race from the 2023 Diamond League in Dubai.

Edited video for Wonder Dynamics

Masked Video of Usain Bolt’s 100-Meter Race, Isolated Subject for AI Analysis

Masked Video of Fred Kerley’s 100-Meter Race, Isolated Subject for AI Analysis

Wonder Dynamics Replacement videos

Usain Bolt’s Bot replacement (Wonder Dynamics) video 01

Fred Kerley’s Bot replacement (Wonder Dynamics) video 01

Usain Bolt’s Bot replacement (Wonder Dynamics) video 02

Fred Kerley’s Bot replacement (Wonder Dynamics) video 02

Cinema 4D skeletons and track

Bolt & Kerley’s race C4D skeletons • Main Camera

Bolt & Kerley’s race C4D skeletons • Top Camera

Bolt & Kerley’s race C4D skeletons • Medium Close-up Camera

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Stills Bumpers Tokyo 2020

Victor — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 15:52:55 +0000

Stills Bumpers Tokyo 2020 (21) Olympics

Stills Bumpers Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Capturing the Essence of the Games

I had the privilege of creating a series of stills bumpers for NBC Olympics’ television coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. These visually striking graphics were designed to capture the spirit of the Games, showcasing the excitement, drama, and triumph of the world’s top athletes.

A Visual Narrative

The stills bumpers series tells a story of dedication, perseverance, and achievement, highlighting the unique aspects of each Olympic sport. With a focus on bold typography, vibrant colors, and dynamic compositions, these graphics aim to engage viewers and enhance their overall Olympic experience.

Creative Collaboration

This project was a collaborative effort with the NBC Olympics design team, ensuring a cohesive visual identity that aligns with their broadcast standards. My role involved conceptualizing and designing the stills bumpers, working closely with the team to refine the creative direction.

A Lasting Impression

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics stills bumpers series stands as a testament to the power of effective design in elevating the viewer experience. I’m proud to have contributed to NBC Olympics’ coverage, creating visuals that will be remembered long after the Games have concluded.

A Showcase of Artistry

This project allowed me to showcase my skills in motion graphics, blending technical expertise with creative vision. The stills bumpers series demonstrates my ability to work within established brand guidelines while injecting innovative flair, making it a standout addition to my portfolio.

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The Magnifying Glass Animation

Victor — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 22:44:46 +0000

The Magnifying Glass Animation

This fun project was created for my team at MediaMonks in 2020, during the height of the pandemic when we were all working from home. It commemorates our weekly tradition of passing a magnifying glass, a symbol used to recognize the team member who demonstrated outstanding performance that week. On this special occasion, I decided to pass the magnifying glass to everyone on the team. I know it might seem a bit “cheesy,” but I was particularly pleased with the animation and 3D tracking. The audio, created by Michael, also added a great touch to the project.

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Mediamonks Blog Graphic Style 2019

Victor — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 21:19:31 +0000

Mediamonks Blog Graphic Style 2019

In 2019, while working at MediaMonks, I was tasked with contributing to the company blog’s graphic style. The following images and animations showcase some of the work we developed for this project. Our visual approach embraced a distinctive aesthetic characterized by expansive negative spaces, a vibrant color palette, and bold black outlines. The illustrations feature highly stylized characters with a minimalist flair, resulting in a visually striking and contemporary look. This unique combination of elements created a cohesive and memorable visual identity for the MediaMonks blog, effectively capturing the company’s innovative spirit and creative expertise.

The blog’s storytelling consisted on 4 different chapters:

1. Need For Always On Content
2. Need For Local Relevancy
3. Brand Ambassadors full
4. Building A Steady Relationship With Flexibility

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#2 Countdown, Ode to Los Angeles

Victor — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:33:12 +0000

#2 Countdown, Ode to Los Angeles

#2 Countdown: A One-Second Ode to Los Angeles

In 2018, I embarked on a passion project at work, collaborating with fellow artists on a captivating countdown series. Each participant was given a single number and one fleeting second to bring their vision to life. For my contribution, I seized the opportunity to pay tribute to the city that inspired me – Los Angeles.

A 3D Homage

With Cinema 4D as my creative canvas, I delved into the realm of 3D design, crafting a mesmerizing one-second ode to LA. This brief yet impactful moment in time allowed me to distill the essence of the city, capturing its vibrant spirit and eclectic charm.

A Personal Reflection

As I reflected on my time in Los Angeles, I drew inspiration from the city’s iconic landscapes, cultural diversity, and creative energy. My one-second contribution became a personal love letter to LA, a celebration of the experiences and memories forged within its borders.

A Collective Masterpiece

The #2 Countdown project united our artistic voices, resulting in a dynamic and diverse visual tapestry. Each second, carefully crafted by a different artist, formed a cohesive and captivating narrative. This collaborative endeavor showcased our shared passion for creativity and innovation.

A Timeless Tribute

My one-second ode to Los Angeles remains a testament to the city’s enduring influence on my artistic journey. As I continue to explore new creative horizons, this project stands as a reminder of the power of passion, collaboration, and the beauty of fleeting moments in time.

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Islamic Economy Award

Victor — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 17:25:59 +0000

Islamic Economy Award 2018

Islamic Economy Award 2018: Visualizing the Ripple Effect

I had the privilege of designing the graphic image for the prestigious Islamic Economy Awards 2018, sponsored by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, UAE. This year’s concept, “action, reaction,” inspired a creative solution: a 2D Rube Goldberg machine illustrating the chain of reactions within the Islamic economic system.

A Chain of Reactions

The Rube Goldberg machine, a masterpiece of intricate design, symbolizes the far-reaching impact of individual actions in the Islamic economy. Each component, meticulously crafted and interconnected, represents the ripple effect of responsible financial decisions and ethical business practices.

A Monumental Visual Statement

The final piece, a breathtaking motion graphics digital wall, measures 18 meters by 3 meters, making a bold statement at the awards ceremony. This immersive visual experience engages viewers, conveying the dynamic interplay of actions and reactions that drive the Islamic economy forward.

Creative Collaboration

This project showcases the power of creative collaboration, combining innovative design, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of the Islamic economic principles. The result is a captivating visual narrative that inspires and educates, leaving a lasting impression on all who experience it.

A Testament to Innovation

The Islamic Economy Award 2018 graphic image stands as a testament to the innovative spirit of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, UAE, and the thriving Islamic economy. This project demonstrates my ability to transform complex concepts into engaging visual experiences, making me proud to have contributed to this prestigious event.

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