Procedural zen. A layering of simple shapes and lines that communicates a feeling of peace and growth of mind. I wanted to incorporate some feeling of tranquility and something meditative but with a hint of excitement. I've always been fascinated by geometric patterns and the calmness of zen gardens. I used this imagery as the inspiration for the visuals I developed in the animation.

I would describe myself as something of a minimalist. I try to always remove excess from my life and mind as much as possible. Therefore, I opted to use a very simple black and white color pallet as well as nothing more than some dots and lines for the animation. I did not want to clutter it with color or other shapes.

I decided to look at mandalas for the imagery within the animation since they symbolize patience and meditation. I sketched an abstract version of a mandala that would fit with my aesthetic—using only lines and dots. I wanted to create elements such as the repetitive lines to emulate the raked sand pattern of zen gardens. I looked at clocks and metronomes to seal the metaphor of time passing and rhythm.

I created a loose set of story boards to envision how the mandala grows throughout the scene. I wanted an emphasis on rhythm and fluid motion as if being guided through a breathing exercise.

Music was created by Joe Hagen for this piece.