This story is inspired by my time growing up between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Wildwood, New Jersey. I would spend much of the winter living down at the shore, and over time, it would become one of my favorite times to be there. I would spend long hours through the cold and wind walking along the beach, the boardwalk, marsh trails, and empty streets. These moments were often spent in silence or with small conversation, but for me, it wasn’t as quiet as it seemed. Originally, I was bored, feeling stuck in this town with nothing to do, but as I got older, I started noticing things I hadn’t seen or thought about before. These once boring instances would become incredibly important moments in my creative thinking and would greatly inspire me as an artist. I would begin imagining I was on a foreign planet or walking through an endless desert. These “abandoned” places began to feel like bustling stories as I imagined new scenarios and tales while wandering through town or along the beach. It is this time in my childhood that I credit for leading me to fall in love with science fiction and greatly influencing my style as an artist. What inspired me greatly was that there isn’t much media depicting seasonal shore towns, specifically in South Jersey, and because of that lack of media, I prioritized creating my own stories around this place that doesn’t get much attention when the temperature gets colder, and the businesses shut their doors for the next 9 months.
Official Trailer
Inspiration — Wildwood, New Jersey
Concepts & Storyboard Animatic
Animation Test
Storyboard Animatic
Alternate Hand-Drawn Type
Background & Character Stills
