Animate a 3–5 Minute Cinematic Sci-Fi Short Film (Hybrid / Full Character Animation)

Hello, I’m producing a 3–5 minute animated sci-fi short film titled Mindwalker, and I’m looking for a skilled animator (or small team) to bring it to life. This project is a cinematic proof-of-concept short that will be submitted to film festivals and used to develop a full animated series. --- PROJECT OVERVIEW The story follows AJ, a teenager struggling with self-doubt, who is pulled into a distant world where he discovers he may be the last heir to a powerful bloodline. As his abilities awaken, he must confront both an interplanetary threat and the internal voice telling him he isn’t enough. Tone: - Emotional and cinematic - Sci-fi with grounded character focus - Inspired by Arcane, Love Death & Robots, and Invincible --- ANIMATION STYLE This project is a hybrid between: - Cinematic motion-comic (camera movement, lighting, parallax) - Select full character animation (key scenes only) This is NOT full frame-by-frame animation throughout, but key moments should feel alive, dynamic, and expressive. --- WHAT I ALREADY HAVE - Full script (3–4 minutes, structured with scenes and timing) - Production deck and shot list - Character designs (consistent Midjourney style) - Environment artwork (Elise, hallway, throne room, etc.) - Some animated loop references (6-second clips) - Existing trailer (for pacing reference only — style will change) --- WHAT STILL NEEDS TO BE CREATED - Missing scenes (ex: arrest scene, power awakening sequence) - Character placement into environments - Visual effects (energy, portals, particles) - Cohesive animation style across all scenes --- KEY SCENES - School hallway (with dialogue + flashback cuts) - Deli arrest flashback - Portal activation - Planet Elise reveal - Lucious mentorship introduction - Meeting Madam Serenity and Phoenix - Training sequence - Artifact discovery - Final power awakening (major cinematic moment) --- AUDIO - Narration already exists (temporary voiceover) - Final voice acting will be added later - Music and sound design can be basic or left minimal if needed to stay within budget --- BUDGET $3,000 – $3,500 total Open to milestone-based structure (preferred: 10–12 milestones) --- SUGGESTED MILESTONES 1. Style test (short sample scene) 2. Scene blocking / animatic polish 3. Hallway + flashback sequence 4. Portal sequence 5. Elise world reveal 6. Character intro scenes 7. Training sequence 8. Artifact scene 9. Power awakening (priority scene) 10. Final edit, transitions, and polish --- TIMELINE 4–6 weeks (flexible depending on workflow) --- IDEAL CANDIDATE - Experience with cinematic animation (not just explainer videos) - Strong sense of lighting, pacing, and storytelling - Comfortable working with existing AI-generated assets - Able to unify visual style across scenes - Bonus: After Effects, Blender, or similar tools --- TO APPLY, PLEASE INCLUDE - Portfolio (especially cinematic or story-driven work) - Examples of similar animation styles - Your approach to combining still assets with animation - Timeline estimate - Any ideas or suggestions for improving the project --- GOAL Create a high-quality, festival-ready short film that feels like a real series pilot — visually compelling, emotional, and memorable. Looking forward to collaborating. Apply tot his job Apply To this Job