NASA
HORIZONS

HORIZONS

DESIGN + ART DIRECTION
& PRODUCTION

This extensive solo project is a homage to NASA's New Horizon's mission; the 9 year journey to Pluto. The short animated film helps to understand the impressive distance (7.5 billion KM) which the New Horizons' space-probe has traveled. Whilst continiously traveling at high speed for 9 years, a big number of events occured on our planet Earth. The film will take you back in time from 2006 to 2015 to show you both the impressive journey and the notable events as they happened.

Intro titles

The intro is showing parts of the journey in backwards order, as we are going from Pluto (2015) to Earth (2006). From there, the last shots of the intro are showing the take off of the probe into space. – After the intro, the journey will continue forwards in time from where the intro has ended.

Starting with the mission

The first scene, shows the probe right above Earth, from the point of view of the International Space Station (ISS). As we gradually take a few steps back from the window of the ISS, we find that the ISS is tracking and displaying this NASA New Horizons probe. The probe's mission overview is displayed on a single computer monitor. From accumulating historical events to mission objectives, a forecast of what to expect in the further visualization of the journey is all hinted in this screen.

From Earth to Pluto

After the intro sequence, you will be taken through space by following the probe as it follows it's route where it encounters Jupiter, astroids and endless skies. As that happens, flashes and footage of the historical events, that happened at that exact time, will pass by as pieces of video content (news footage) photographs and audio content.

Horizons "Constellation" Poster

In the details of the film, small symbols inspired by constellations (star map) are shown (e.g. in the titles). As I thought it was worth eleborating on this interesting detail, I designed an entire constellation map poster. The map reflects upon the events between 2006 and 2009. The centre shape is the official drawing of the front of the probe (this I've also shown in the final title of the film which you can see below).

Closing notes

Design / Art Direction: Vinesh Gayadin
Motion / CG / Compositing: Vinesh Gayadin
Music: Mogwai / Caspian

This project was set up to expand my toolset/knowledge in my love for rich story telling. Special thanks to: David Navarro and the generous people who shared their lessons.

This project carries the strict purpose of education only. NASA, New Horizons, Mogwai, Caspian, other media and any references used in this film, are not associated with this project.

Selected Work