Overview

As part of my 90-second documentary project, I designed a 30-second title sequence to introduce the film. My documentary was an interview-style piece called Spray Paint Art for Beginners, which focused on how to make a quick and easy painting. To match the subject, the title sequence was art-themed, with each reveal inspired by a different medium: paint spill, line drawing, brushstroke, and spray paint.

The storyboard mapped out the four title reveals and transitions:

A spray paint effect for the final reveal.

A paint bucket spilling paint.

A hand-drawn line effect.

A brushstroke painting on canvas.

The assets were primarily sourced from Adobe Stock, but I also created custom shapes for track mattes in Procreate, which I then imported into After Effects to control the reveals and transitions. To achieve the watercolor aesthetic, I used an AI tool that transformed the Adobe Stock imagery into a stylized watercolor look, giving the visuals a handmade and organic feel.
All animation and compositing were done in After Effects using keyframing, track mattes, and layering techniques.

One of the main challenges was making the transitions between mediums feel smooth and cohesive while keeping the pacing under 30 seconds. I also had to balance the watercolor filter effect so the titles stayed clear and readable. This project taught me how to integrate stock resources, custom Procreate assets, and AI-filtered imagery into one consistent style. It gave me a stronger understanding of how motion design can set the tone for a film and prepare the audience for what they’re about to watch.