CHANGE THE GAME
In the high-octane world of competitive esports, VALORANT Game Changers is a force to be reckoned with. They are women and gender-marginalized players within the VALORANT community, rejecting convention with their bold spirit and insanely talented play. Partnering with Riot Games, we set out to create a visually stunning campaign for the first-ever Game Changers Championship that matched the intensity and fearlessness of the pros themselves. This is how you Seize the Play!
To create a legendary showstopper, we crafted an action-packed story with Riot Games that is stylized with radiant energy--psychedelic and surreal--bringing anime-inspired action into a dreamscape of VALORANT imagery and lore. Highlighting five Game Changers pros from across the globe, we set out to bring their in-game personas to the forefront, turning their skill and creativity into mind-bending action with VALORANT ability easter eggs and an endless supply of pure grit. The combination of hyper-stylized visuals, kinetic action, editorial, and fearless individuality launched this campaign into the stratosphere as a showcase of the unrelenting talent and fearlessness of VALORANT Game Changers.
Awards
Motion Awards | Live Event Title Sequence
Shots Awards | 2D Animation Silver
Shortlists
AICP Show | Design
AICP Post | Motion Graphics & Design
AICP Post | Character Design
Also featured on…
Little Black Book
Stash Media
THE GAME CHANGERS
BEYOND THE FILM
Process
DESIGN EXPLORATION
Credits
Brand Partner: Scholar
Story By: Riot Games, Macauley Johnson, Ana Chang
Creative Director: Macauley Johnson
Art Director: Ana Chang
Animation Director: Alex Bernas
Lead Compositor: Andrew Tan
CG Supervisor: Kevin Kolodinsky
Managing Executive Producer: Kirsten Noll
Executive Producer: Antonio Hardy
Head of Production: Nicole Smarsh
Senior Producer: Christina Yiallouris
Associate Producer: Bella Bergeron
Production Assistant: Jack Readman
Pitch Producer: Marcus Fussell
Lead Designer: Jina Kwon
Designers: Aivy Nguyen, Kiron Robinson, Cendan Claiborne, Jose Bernabe, Kyle Fewell, Siena Mae, Stephanie Stromenger, Tiago Calliari, Victorien Aubineau
Storyboards: Mark Yates
Cel Animators: Aivy Nguyen, Alex Bernas, Ana Chang, Danni Fisher-Shin, Zach Herdman, Barbara Benas, Billy Mpetha, Bruno de Mendonca, Deco Daviola, Laura Yilmaz, Michael Relth, Olivia Blanc, Romario Clarke
Media Manager: Adrianna McKinley
3D/ Previz Animators: Han Hu, Kevin Kolodinsky, Stephen Van Wyk, Derek Friesenborg, Sarah Wolfe, Steven Dvornik
Compositors: Kenny Kerut, Sam Bachman, Andrew Tan, Dylan Blau, Jip Jeong
2D Animators: Kiron Robinson, Zach Herdman
Editor: Dominic Strazulo
Telecine: RCO
Colorist: Derrick Yuen
Mix & Sound Design: Another Country
Mix & Sound Designer: Erik Widmark
Assistant: Cathryn Stark