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🎬 Motion-Storybook Animation Artist – SHAKABUBU™ (The Hug That Heals the World) Project Type: Fixed-Price Contract Budget: $250 USD (flexible range $250–$350) Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced Duration: 1–2 weeks Category: 2D Animation / Character Animation / Motion Design 🌍 About the Project May 1st Company (USA) — creators of the SHAKABUBU™ brand (“The Hug That Heals the World”) — seeks a creative and reliable 2D motion-storybook animator to produce a 5-minute pilot episode. SHAKABUBU™ is a global, family-friendly character brand that promotes empathy, kindness, and emotional healing. This pilot will combine illustrated storybook panels, light 2D animation, gentle motion graphics, voice-over narration, and background music — a blend of Cocomelon’s visual warmth and StoryCorps Animated Shorts’ heartfelt storytelling. 🎨 Scope of Work / Deliverables Storyboard & Scene Layout – Create a scene-by-scene storyboard based on our approved script and voice track. Character & Background Design – Adapt existing SHAKABUBU™ illustrations (Adobe Illustrator / Digital Painting) and enhance them for animation. 2D Animation / Motion Design – Use Adobe After Effects, Toon Boom Harmony, or Moho (Anime Studio) to animate characters and transitions with a smooth storybook flow. Audio Integration – Synchronize voice-over narration, sound effects, and background music (Voice Over Synchronization). Final Output – Deliver a 5-minute HD video (1920×1080 MP4) optimized for YouTube and social media. Optional Bonus: Short vertical edits (≤ 60 sec) for TikTok or Instagram Reels. 🧩 What You’ll Receive Completed script but you'll have to generate the American-English-accent voice-over audio by yourself. Character and logo files (PNG / AI formats) Visual references and brand guide Creative direction and weekly feedback from the brand founder 💼 Ideal Candidate Proven experience in 2D Animation, Character Animation, or Children’s Animation Strong skills in Storyboarding, Illustration, and Visual Storytelling Proficiency with Adobe After Effects, Toon Boom Harmony, or Moho (Anime Studio) Understanding of family-friendly tone, color design, and pacing for kids’ content Ability to integrate narration and music seamlessly (Voice Over Synchronization) Reliable, communicative, and able to meet 1–2 week turnaround 💡 Preferred Style References Cocomelon – colorful and musical family animation Bluey – emotional warmth and parent-child themes StoryCorps Animated Shorts – gentle motion-storybook tone Little Bear – calm narrative flow and cozy visual feel 💰 Budget & Timeline Fixed Price: $250 USD (flexible range $250–$350 depending on style and quality) Timeline: 1–2 weeks from project kickoff Opportunity: Ongoing episodes and YouTube mini-series after pilot success 📆 Proposed Milestones Milestone 1 – Storyboard & Design Draft (30%) Deliverable: Storyboard + 10–15 second animated motion test ➡ Payment: $90 USD Milestone 2 – Full Animation & Audio Integration (50%) Deliverable: 5 minute draft with synced voice and music ➡ Payment: $100 USD Milestone 3 – Final HD Delivery (20%) Deliverable: Final HD MP4 + social media versions + source files ➡ Payment: $60 USD ❓ Screening Questions What software and workflow do you use for 2D animation and storyboarding? Please share 2–3 examples of children’s animation or storybook-style videos you’ve created. How long would you need to produce a 5 minute animation once assets are provided? Are you comfortable syncing to voice-over narration and music? Do you have experience optimizing videos for YouTube and social media platforms? ✉️ How to Apply Submit a brief proposal including: Portfolio link(s) to similar animation work Answers to the screening questions A short note about why you connect with the message of SHAKABUBU™ – The Hug That Heals the World 🧠 Suggested Skills & Tags (copy these into Upwork’s “Skills” field) 2D Animation Character Animation Children’s Animation Storyboarding Adobe After Effects Toon Boom Harmony Moho (Anime Studio) Cartoon Animation Motion Design Video Editing Voice Over Synchronization Illustration Digital Painting Visual Storytelling Family-Friendly Content Animation for YouTube Educational Animation Adobe Illustrator