Titan submarine accident
Project Brief
This animation was created to visualise the Titan submersible accident that occurred during a deep-sea expedition to the Titanic wreck site. The goal was to explain the sequence of events, vessel design, and the geographic context for a news audience in a clear, visually compelling format.
1. Information Gathering
I collected information from verified maritime sources, press briefings from the U.S. Coast Guard, and investigative reports detailing the incident. Data included the dive profile, depth ranges, vessel structure, and timeline of last communications. Oceanographic maps and Titanic site coordinates were also sourced from open-access databases.
2. Content Planning & Structure
The narrative followed a logical sequence: introduction to the submersible, its mission, technical structure, dive path, communication loss, and search efforts. Each section was storyboarded to transition cleanly between mechanical detail and geographical location, helping viewers follow both cause and context.
3. Design Execution
I used Cinema 4D to render a detailed 3D model of the Titan submersible, providing viewers with a clear sense of its scale, dimensions, and structure. This visual was crucial in helping the audience grasp the confined space and technical limitations of the vessel. Geographic elements, such as the dive path and Titanic wreck location, were animated using GeoLayers in After Effects, while supporting vector assets were created in Illustrator and textures refined in Photoshop. The final sequence blended 3D rendering with 2D infographics for a layered and informative visual experience.
4. Visual Strategy
After internal editorial review, I adjusted the visual pacing and clarified certain technical terms with simpler icons and tooltips. The vessel’s scale was enhanced by adding depth markers and comparison visuals, which helped improve audience understanding of the extreme dive conditions.
5. Outcome
The explainer was aired on television and widely shared on digital platforms during ongoing news coverage. Viewers responded positively to the clarity and sensitivity of the visual storytelling, particularly the ability to show complex engineering concepts and geographical data in a digestible, respectful way.