ECD Loren Judah and the design/animation team at We Are Royale (WAR) in LA stir 3D, cel, 2.5D, and machine learning into a two-minute maelstrom/origin story for the release of Naafiri, the latest League of Legends playable champion.

Loren Judah: “The story explores the physical and metaphysical transformation of Naafiri. In League lore, she was a Darkin assassin who became entombed in a dagger. Eons later, she is discovered in the Shuriman desert by a lone explorer. This sets off a series of events that will ultimately lead to her inhabiting not one single entity but an entire pack of Dune Hounds.
 

“Considering Naafiri’s multi-faceted origins and transformation, it was important to utilize every method in our animation arsenal.”

 
“We take the audience through that abstract idea of the mind splitting to control the many and revealing the character’s final form back at the spot that started it all.

“Considering Naafiri’s multi-faceted origins and transformation, it was important to utilize every method in our animation arsenal. From 3D animation with hand-painted illustrative textures, to give a grounded feel in the intro, to a storybook 2.5D style in the battlefields of her memory.

“Generative frame analysis tools were also used to aid the artists during the more frenetic and surreal moments where Naafiri’s mind is splitting, allowing shots to smear and combine together to better visualize her distorted state of mind and perception all while letting new tech give its own interpretation of our illustrated reality.”
 
 

 
Client: Riot Games
Creative Director: Elie Lehman
Video Director: Chris Eaton
Brand Lead: Arman Aivazian
Video Producer: Marissa Alanis
Campaign Producer: Jack Shenker
Video Coordinator: Emily McMartin
Art Lead: Steve McCrumb
Art Direction: Dan Norton
Narrative Writer: Cat Cheresh
Narrative Editor: Sabrina Futch
Original Music Composer: Jason Walsh
Music Producer: Kimberly Levin
Sound Mix/Design: Sean Balas
Editor: Spencer Sturr

Production: We Are Royale
Chief Creative Officer, Partner: Brien Holman
Chief Executive Officer, Partner: Jennifer Lucero
Executive Creative Director: Loren Judah
Animation Supervisor: Pat Clarke
CG Supervisor: Matt Guzzardo
Art Director: Ben Hurand
Managing Director: Beck Henderer-Peña
Executive Producer: Rhys Demery
Director of Business Development: Heidi Netzley
Head of Production: Asheley Hu Roe
Senior Producer: Lisa Laubhan
Illustration and Design: Ridell Apellanes, Mariia Menshikova, Brandon Smith, Elleyce Pahang, Dylan Casano, Nikita Kibirev
Conceptual Designer: Josh Childers, Ryan Brant
Animation/Compositing: Jared Norby, Dylan Casano, Nikita Kibirev, Charlie Proctor, Foram Jani, Pat Clarke, Loren Judah, Alex Maxwell
Editor: Isaac Ruth
Production Coordinator: Bernard Ellouk