Creative production company We Are Royale (WAR) has joined forces with Riot Games to craft an enthralling cinematic trailer heralding the debut of Naafiri, the newest playable champion in the immensely popular video game, League of Legends.
At the heart of this two-minute animation lies Naafiri’s unique ability to inhabit multiple mortal bodies, a central theme that propels her multifaceted origin story and evolution. To bring this enchanting narrative to life, WAR harnessed a blend of animation techniques, including 3D, cel animation, 2.5D, and even machine learning. Each stage of Naafiri’s transformation is imbued with a distinct visual style, further immersing viewers into her captivating journey.
In League of Legends, Naafiri stands as an unprecedented champion, boasting a backstory that deviates from the norm. While most individuals inhabit a solitary body, she traverses various forms. The tale begins with Naafiri imprisoned within a dagger as a Darkin, but her freedom comes at the hands—or jaws—of a pack of ferocious Dune Hounds. The ambiguity of whether she consumes them or they consume her becomes the bedrock of her transformation, forming the nucleus of the animated piece.
The narrative of the trailer delves into Naafiri’s physical and metaphysical transformation. Previously a Darkin assassin confined within a dagger, she reemerges eons later in the Shuriman desert, discovered by an intrepid explorer. The chain reaction triggered by this discovery leads to her eventual inhabitation of an entire pack of Dune Hounds, transcending the confines of a single entity.
The audience is guided through the enigmatic notion of a mind splitting to control many, culminating in the revelation of Naafiri’s final form at the location where her journey commenced. Watch below:
REELated:
“Riot was very open to our point of view and approach to the creation of this introduction spot, which is something they do every time a new playable character is added to the game. Their brief was absolutely bursting with references and intriguing ideas. At WAR, we focused on honing a narrative approach that would bring everything together cohesively,” says Loren Judah, Executive Creative Director, We Are Royale.
With Riot Games receptive to WAR’s creative direction, the production studio meticulously crafted a narrative that seamlessly coalesces all elements. The creative team at WAR was resolute in their focus on this storytelling approach, leveraging the opportunity to imbue the trailer with a sense of cohesion and intrigue.
“The story explores the physical and metaphysical transformation of Naafiri. In League lore, she was a Darkin assassin who became entombed in a dagger. Eons later, she is discovered in the Shuriman desert by a lone explorer. This sets off a series of events that will ultimately lead to her inhabiting not one single entity but an entire pack of Dune Hounds. We take the audience through that abstract idea of the mind splitting to control the many and revealing the character’s final form back at the spot that started it all,” adds Judah.
WAR’s animation team brought a symphony of varied skills and styles to the Naafiri project, resulting in an aesthetic that is both painterly and meticulously detailed. This distinctive visual approach permeates the entire trailer, starting from a foundational 3D model and building layers of animation on top.
“The collaborative thought process and detailed artistry involved in this project are exactly what we love doing at WAR. We’re really proud of the final film.”
The final cinematic trailer stands as a testament to WAR’s dedication and creativity, leaving them brimming with pride for the outcome they have achieved.
CREDITS:
CLIENT: Riot Games
- Creative Director: Elie Lehman
- Video Director: Chris Eaton
- Brand Lead: Arman Aivazian
- Video Producer: Marissa Alanis
- Campaign Producer: Jack Shenker
- Video Coordinator: Emily McMartin
- Art Lead: Steve McCrumb
- Art Direction: Dan Norton
- Narrative Writer: Cat Cheresh
- Narrative Editor: Sabrina Futch
- Original Music Composer: Jason Walsh
- Music Producer: Kimberly Levin
- Sound Mix/Design: Sean Balas
- Editor: Spencer Sturr
Design & Production Company: We Are Royale
- Chief Creative Officer, Partner: Brien Holman
- Chief Executive Officer, Partner: Jennifer Lucero
- Executive Creative Director: Loren Judah
- Animation Supervisor: Pat Clarke
- CG Supervisor: Matt Guzzardo
- Art Director: Ben Hurand
- Managing Director: Beck Henderer-Peña
- Executive Producer: Rhys Demery
- Director of Business Development: Heidi Netzley
- Head of Production: Asheley Hu Roe
- Senior Producer: Lisa Laubhan
- Illustration and Design: Ridell Apellanes, Mariia Menshikova, Brandon Smith, Elleyce Pahang, Dylan Casano, Nikita Kibirev
- Conceptual Designer: Josh Childers
- Conceptual Designer: Ryan Brant
- Animation/Compositing: Jared Norby, Dylan Casano, Nikita Kibirev, Charlie Proctor, Foram Jani, Pat Clarke, Loren Judah, Alex Maxwell
- Editor: Isaac Ruth
- Production Coordinator: Bernard Ellouk
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