Stream channel
Branding
My first foray into YouTube branding was for my own channels. For years, I'd received messages asking who I had hired to make my bumpers and end cards, and in some cases was subsequently commissioned to create animations for other streaming channels and influencer pages. A couple of these quick jobs transformed into ongoing partnerships, including one for a friend who found his calling in marketing and has hired me to produce web adverts for various brands.
For the case of my personal YouTube streaming channel where I play video games and create artwork, I wanted to convey what viewers would be in for from the first seconds of the video. The type of game, the bouncy, energetic tone, and an overall fun time. I also created character animations that quite literally jump into the frame, introducing who will be joining me for the stream.
Although I don't necessarily animate using a light table and pencils, I like to think that I am employing tried-and-true techniques from the classical animation period, blending traditional animation with modern, digital software in cohesive harmony. This is "tra-digital" animation, and I love spending time in this space, bringing nuance and care to every frame of a character's actions by hand.
Although this has not been the most lucrative endeavor in my career, I do this for the love of motion design, defining branding, and animating characters in a way that I don't often get to otherwise. In a world where there's more incentive to output quantity rather than quality, I find streaming to be a happy medium where I am able to produce content quickly while simultaneously showcasing my dedication to the craft.
I'm a firm believer that a touch of customized design can go a long way, and I hope that my audience and the clients I've helped with their social media branding feel same way.