Sleep and mental health
This animated explainer describes the connection between sleep and mental health. The video aims to educate viewers on how quality sleep influences mood, cognitive function, emotional regulation, and overall psychological well-being.
It highlights both the negative consequences of sleep deprivation and the restorative benefits of healthy sleep patterns, encouraging a greater appreciation for rest as a vital component of mental health.
I designed a series of engaging 3D characters to act as guides through various scenarios, illustrating the daily struggles associated with poor sleep and the positive transformations that come with good rest.
The scenes range from agitated nights to refreshed mornings, using dynamic compositions and emotional cues to convey the narrative effectively. These 3D assets were rendered in Daz Studio and meticulously animated and composited in After Effects to create a clear and impactful visual story.
Credits
Direction, Animation & Design: Sasan Shekarestan
Voiceover: Zohreh Tabakh
Client: Digipezeshk
Tools Used: Daz Studio, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, After Effects
Challenges & Creative Decisions
One of the key challenges was to visually represent the internal states associated with sleep, like fatigue, restlessness, or rejuvenation, without relying on overly literal or static imagery.
To overcome this, I focused on subtle shifts in character expression, posture, and environmental lighting to convey these states. For instance, a character might appear slumped and dull when tired, transitioning to bright and energetic after a good night's sleep.
Another creative decision involved showing the broader impact of sleep across different aspects of life, not just in bed. The animation needed to illustrate how sleep affects daily activities, interactions, and overall functioning.
This required designing varied environments and scenarios, from a bustling day to a peaceful bedroom, to demonstrate the pervasive influence of sleep on mental clarity and emotional stability. The use of expressive 3D characters allowed for nuanced storytelling that made the abstract concept of mental well-being feel personal and relatable.
