One More Time Short Film

One More Time Short Film

One More Time Short Film is an animated short film created during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a poignant letter of encouragement to individuals with special needs and the broader global community facing isolation. Directed by Khoo Siew May and Jay Septimo, this artistic work masterfully combines traditional hand-drawn animation techniques with modern digital processes to create an intimate and warm aesthetic experience. The film, which garnered a Bronze A' Design Award in the Movie, Video and Animation Design category, employs a distinctive visual approach characterized by bright, saturated colors and deliberately imperfect hand-drawn elements to emphasize its themes of hope and resilience. Produced in Full HD resolution at 24 frames per second, the animation integrates various technical elements including Procreate for initial animation, Adobe Animate for refinement, and After Effects for 3D components and compositing, all while maintaining a cohesive artistic vision. The production process, spanning from May to August 2020, involved remote collaboration between creative professionals from Singapore, the Philippines, and the United States, featuring narration by community members who shared their perspectives on resilience during the pandemic. The film's technical execution balances traditional animation aesthetics with digital efficiency, utilizing natural media-looking brushes in Photoshop to enhance its handcrafted appeal. This innovative approach to animation design, combined with its meaningful social message and technical excellence, exemplifies the intersection of artistic expression and social advocacy in contemporary digital storytelling.

animation design, pandemic narrative, special needs awareness, digital storytelling, artistic advocacy, social impact film

— Adam Dawson