I had the pleasure of being able to help out with clean up, lighting, and VFX for Starlight and it was an amazing experience. The amazing quality of animation and storytelling featured in just 4 minutes was astounding. Specifically, the animated music video for TWRP, Starlight Brigade, directed by India Swift and art direction by Michael Doig. I believe it was the previous work from Knights which caught their attention. They gave us plenty of references for their characters and lots of creative freedom on how we were going to approach our interpretation of Stella and her friends. So while working on the boards and rough pencils of the animated trailer, it was always on the back of my mind that, ‘we need to make it beautiful because the game is already so beautiful!’ I hope we achieved this goal in the end! What was it like working with Thunder Lotus Games? How did the project come about? It was rare to see a new game that featured hand drawn 2D animation at the forefront. I’ve been keeping a keen eye on the game since it was announced because I fell in love with the art style and animation. It’s one of those situations that no matter how much you prepare for, you will always be surprised with unforeseen circumstances.īeing able to successfully capture the beauty and essence of the themes of Spiritfarer was probably the most daunting task. Working in an animated production is always a challenge! Every production, big or small, has its own quirks and challenges along the way. What was the most challenging aspect of the project?

In their gameplay trailer which debuted prior, they essentially showcased what this gameplay loop would look like – the characters that you meet, the things you learn, the relationships you build along the way, and the sadness of saying goodbye to your friends. Thank you! The trailer was intended to give a more intimate look into the player’s journey within Spiritfarer. Your animated trailer for Spiritfarer is a beautiful, emotional snapshot of the game. Background Illustration: Luke Weber, Michael Doig. Animation: David Liu, India Swift, Hardik Manktala, Kevin Ryan, Parker Pierce, Danny Reyes, Daniel Barón. Read our interview below.ĭirector: David Liu.

They explain how they faithfully rendered the Spiritfarer world while channeling the emotional charge of its storyline. Now firmly back in the land of the living, Knights’ David Liu and Patrick Stannard were kind enough to share some of their process. The result is a poignant and polished 90 second trailer that handles the business of death with delicateness. The Texas-based studio knew that to do Spiritfarerjustice, they would have to present faithfully the endearing characters, serene settings and delicate moments of subtlety that make the game what it is. This fantastic animated trailer from Knights of the Light Table shows us why. For its solemn subject matter, Spiritfarer is a warm and comforting game that is likely to pull at players’ heart-strings. On this journey, characters find peace in themselves, come to terms with passing, and ultimately say their goodbyes to the living. You play as Stella your role is to ferry lost spirits through purgatory to an after-life called The Everdore. Spiritfarer, from game developers Thunder Lotus, finds a beautiful way to confront life’s most serious question.

Knights of the light table