Motion in Depth: Junior Athletes
As part of a motion design course I completed in April, I was tasked with animating an existing design project. I chose Junior Athletes, a branding project for a children’s soccer clinic, and created a playful showreel that brings the identity to life through animation. The goal was to translate the playful, vibrant brand identity into motion to create a showreel that not only highlights the visual elements but also captures the spirit of the program through movement, rhythm, and pacing.
This page outlines my process of motion development from concept to animation, showing how static design can become dynamic storytelling.
Concept
The concept for this motion piece, Let’s Play Together, captures the essence of what the clinic stands for - community, play, and teamwork. I wanted to reflect the brand’s friendly, inclusive spirit while celebrating the joy of learning and growing through sports.
It welcomes children and parents into the Junior Athletes community and embodies the brand’s values of friendship, teamwork, fun, and nurturing young talent.
With the word “play” at the heart of it, the concept naturally conveys movement, fun, and energy making it feel inclusive and action-packed. It’s all about sharing moments, building confidence, and enjoying the game together.
Core Motion Principles
These principles guided the animation style and brought the brand to life through movement. Each motion choice was intentional, designed to reflect the playful, inclusive, and energetic spirit of Junior Athletes while supporting clarity, consistency, and emotional connection.
Playful Energy
Reflects the joy of childhood through bouncy, spirited motion that feels lighthearted and fun
Color pops
Playful and dynamic motion
Bouncy movement
Flowing Transitions
Smooth, continuous transitions to represent teamwork, connection, and the natural rhythm of group play and collaboration
Smooth, continuous transitions
Rotations and spins
Welcoming Tone
Open, inclusive motion that embodies the spirit of togetherness, inviting every child to join in and feel part of the team
Real footage from soccer sessions
Gentle scaling
Soft easing
Scamps & Storyboards
These are the initial sketches that map out the structure and flow of the showreel animation piece.
Each section reflects the story I wanted to tell through motion, starting with logo animation, then moving through key brand moments such as values, colors, and social assets. Every frame was designed with the above motion principles in mind.
I focused on bouncy, playful motion and continuous transitions to mirror the energy of kids playing together. The animations are built around movement that feels dynamic but still friendly with no sharp cuts.
Throughout, I used shape rotations, scaling, and color shifts to keep things exciting and emphasize the joy, teamwork, and inclusivity at the heart of the brand.
Showreel
At its core, Let’s Play Together is about joy, connection, and the magic of childhood. The goal of this motion piece was to create something that feels just as fun to watch as it is to play the game. Through rhythm, movement, and playful transitions, the animation expresses not just what the brand looks like, but also how it feels. It brings the Junior Athletes identity to life in a way that’s energetic, inviting, and emotionally resonant.