Role Played:

Motion Graphic Designer

## National Geographic – *WWII: Secrets From Above*

**The challenge was to transform archival World War II photography and reconnaissance imagery into immersive cinematic sequences that revealed the stories hidden within the landscape.**

Created in collaboration with 'National Geographic' and 'Dinnick & Howells', 'WWII: Secrets From Above' combined historical research, archive photography and motion design to revisit pivotal moments of the Second World War. The series required a sensitive visual approach that respected the historical significance of the material while creating engaging sequences for a modern television audience.

Working in Cinema 4D, I designed and animated more than 90 scenes throughout the series, recreating battles, bombing raids and military operations using a combination of camera projection techniques, compositing and 3D animation. Historical photographs and archive footage were carefully aligned with present-day aerial imagery, allowing the past to be seamlessly integrated into contemporary landscapes and revealing how these locations have changed over time.

Produced before AI-assisted production became commonplace, every one of the 90+ scenes I created was designed and animated manually, combining camera projection, compositing and 3D animation to transform archival imagery into cinematic reconstructions of historical events.

For several sequences, I also developed x-ray style visualisations by tracking detailed 3D models to live-action footage, exposing the internal workings of military equipment and helping explain complex engineering in a clear and visually engaging way. These animations added another layer of storytelling, enabling viewers to better understand the technology behind key moments in the conflict.

The result was a visually rich documentary series that used motion design to bridge past and present, demonstrating how animation can enhance historical storytelling while preserving the authenticity and emotional weight of archival material.