Before Fireflies

Type Music Video
Timeline March – April 2025
Tools After Effects / Character Animator / Premiere Pro / Photoshop
My Role Motion Designer & Animator

Overview

Before Fireflies is an original music video I created with Owl City's Fireflies as its soundtrack, following a child drifting from waking life into dreamland. I choreographed the animation around the music, shaping scene timing to follow its rhythm and phrasing, and shifted color temperature from warm indoor light to cool nighttime tones as the story moves from reality into dream.

Process

Fireflies Animation

I created a firefly swarm that feels alive and natural, carrying a soft glow across three scenes.

Fireflies animation — shape layers with wiggle transform and glow effect

3D Parallax Composition

I built depth into the scene so the space itself moves with the music, giving flat images a sense of dimension.

Character Animation

I animated both characters to move in sync with the music, giving them lifelike, expressive motion.