Visual development & motion

Animation & concept

Films, characters, and imagined worlds from Rui Duan’s portfolio. Start with the finished motion work, then explore how shape, expression, and light make the images read.

Watch the work in motion

Animation, motion graphics & modeling

Start with Captured Moments, then choose another film to play here.

Personal animation · 2018

Captured Moments

The final film from the 2018 personal animation project. Explore its character, environment, and sequence work in the case study.

Choose from 12 films and studies +Close film index −

Character design

23 studies · 4 highlights

Keep the character consistent as the performance changes

These character sheets separate color, construction, expression, and pose. Clothing palettes can be compared on the same figure; the turnaround connects front, side, and back views. Expression and pose variations show a useful balance: stable proportions preserve recognition, while changes in the brows, mouth, hands, and weight carry different emotional states.

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Character color variations
Character color variations
Character costume turnaround
Character costume turnaround
Character construction turnaround
Character construction turnaround
Character facial expressions
Character facial expressions
Character dynamic poses
Character dynamic poses
Character face references and sketch exploration
Character exploration board with photographic references alongside drawn studies.
Character costume references and sketch exploration
Character exploration board combining costume references with shape and silhouette sketches.
Character expression variations
Character expression variations
Hansel color variations
Hansel color variations
Gretel color variations
Gretel color variations
Hansel expression studies
Hansel expression studies
Gretel expression studies
Gretel expression studies
Female portrait color studies
Female portrait color studies
Male portrait color studies
Male portrait color studies
Character shape exploration
Character shape exploration
Character proportion and detail studies
Character proportion and detail studies
Character costume variations
Character costume variations
Character turnaround sheet
Character turnaround sheet
Character action poses
Character action poses

Environment design

31 studies · 4 highlights

Use structure and light to organize depth

Compare the interior studies through two tools for organizing space: perspective lines describe depth, while bright windows and darker walls direct attention. The paintings use overlapping leaves, water, and distant sky, or a warm opening framed by cool rocks. Large shapes and value relationships keep each scene readable alongside its finer details.

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Architectural street sketch
Architectural street sketch
Chinese architectural color study
Chinese architectural color study
Environment color study collection
Environment color study collection
Architectural perspective sketch
Architectural perspective sketch
Street composition sketch
Street composition sketch
Landscape color study
Landscape color study
Roof and street perspective sketch
Roof and street perspective sketch
Rainy window background
Rainy window background
Tree and roots environment painting
Tree and roots environment painting
Underwater environment painting
Underwater environment painting
Floating lights environment painting
Floating lights environment painting
Boat and floating lights environment painting
Boat and floating lights environment painting
Forest environment painting
Forest environment painting
Environment composition thumbnails
Environment composition thumbnails
Forest path composition sketch
Forest path composition sketch
Two-point interior perspective
Two-point interior perspective
One-point interior perspective
One-point interior perspective
Three-point architectural perspective
Three-point architectural perspective
Landscape color and reflection study
Landscape color and reflection study
Outdoor architectural perspective
Outdoor architectural perspective
Outdoor street perspective
Outdoor street perspective
Fisheye interior perspective
Fisheye interior perspective
Fisheye room composition
Fisheye room composition
Panoramic street composition
Panoramic street composition
Graphic composition thumbnails
Graphic composition thumbnails
Vertical environment composition
Vertical environment composition
Stairway environment composition
Stairway environment composition

Frame studies

12 studies · 4 highlights

Control the first read through shape, hierarchy, and light

Hat and Singapore observation separate expressive figures from quiet backgrounds. EM Services organizes typography and landmarks into a hierarchy; the head model uses light to reveal facial form. Each medium presents a different way to establish a focal point. The film index extends these still-image comparisons into movement and sound.

Hat animation frame
Hat — the raised hands and angular silhouette make the pose the focus of the frame.
Singapore observation animation frame
Singapore observation — a dark character silhouette separates the figure from the pale room.
EM Services motion graphics frame
EM Services — typography and simplified landmarks share a single motion-graphics frame.
Head model study
Head modeling — a neutral shaded view makes the facial proportions and surface forms visible.
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Painted underwater environment
Captured Moments — underwater environment artwork. The dedicated case study follows the wider animation project.
Sakuran title animation frame
Sakuran title animation frame
Foley animation frame
Foley animation frame
Kisah forest animation frame
Kisah forest animation frame
Creature model study
Creature model study
Walk cycle and forest background
Walk cycle and forest background
Platform game animation frame
Platform game animation frame
Locus Chain motion graphics frame
Locus Chain motion graphics frame
Product Design
UX/UI Design
Visual Design
Product Design
UX/UI Design
Visual Design