Development of olfactory animation materials for the Moscow Museum and the Academy of Perfume Art, Odorum. The materials will be showcased in the museum’s hall and on the website.
Previously, we created a video for the hall themed around Ancient Rome. This was an explainer about essential oil production.
1 video about perfume production in Ancient Rome
This time, our task was to create a video about the olfactory map of the Medieval world, with the narrative unfolding around the pomander—a medieval accessory used to store aromatic mixtures.
Creative Brief:
— mp4 — 3–4 minutes — 4K resolution — Style inspired by medieval manuscripts
First, we developed a script based on the client’s requests. The plot revolves around a pomander that is revealed in seven segments, each with a distinct aroma: amber, frankincense, angelica, cinnamon, nutmeg, slag, and rosemary. The narrator is a monk who tells seven different short stories, one for each segment.
We approved the visual style with the client—one inspired by medieval manuscripts. We used the transitional antique font GaramondBookC, generative AI illustrations based on historical artifacts of the era, and medieval graphic elements.
For the generations, we used the ChatGPT neural network, which was pre-trained on images of medieval furniture, interiors, and landscapes. The illustrations were manually processed to eliminate artifacts.
Based on the script and style, we drafted a storyboard for the upcoming video.
In addition to the illustrative component, we decided to incorporate 3D graphics. Because it was important for the clients to accurately depict the opening and closing of the pomander’s lobes, we created a 3D model of the accessory, basing it on the real pomander from the museum’s collection.
Pomander from the museum collection and 3D model
Next, we proceeded to animation tests. We cut the illustrations into layers and presented the clients with two technical options for their selection: cut-out animation and animation using the puppet pin tool. We finally approved the first concept.
We also provided the first version of the 3D scene featuring a pomander against a dark background, along with its integration with the 2D elements. During the review, the clients decided to request revisions to the scene and the design of the pomander itself. We then adjusted the accessory textures and began working on the scene background, creating an environment resembling a storyteller’s desk.
The video is still in development. At this stage, we are awaiting final script revisions before moving on to finalizing the scenes and editing.
