Animated Halftone Illustration

Animated Halftone Illustration: Fox & Iguana

Illustration, Design and Animation by John Potter - Escape Key Graphics

This animation brings the illustrated branding for Fox & Iguana to life. It represents the dynamic extension of a comprehensive illustration project where narrative, branding, and innovative technique converge.

The project began with a custom graphite illustration of an anthropomorphized iguana, a character designed to define the identity of a restaurant and bar. This was followed by a companion piece featuring a fox. These illustrations, drawing on Art Nouveau style with a contemporary twist, established a playful and sophisticated visual world. The characters were so integral to the brand that the restaurant eventually adopted the name Fox & Iguana.

For the staff T shirts, I translated the illustrations using custom linear halftones, creating a distinctive wave like texture in black and white. To add an interactive dimension, I developed this animated version. The animation takes the halftone artwork and introduces subtle motion, transforming the static image into an engaging sequence. This animated asset was created specifically for use as an augmented reality feature, allowing the artwork on a shirt or poster to be scanned and revealed in motion through a mobile device.

The process involved building the initial halftone illustration in Adobe Photoshop and then animating the components with After Effects and Premiere Pro. The final animated piece was prepared for augmented reality playback using the dedicated platform EyeJack. This approach blended traditional illustrative detail with digital motion graphics, resulting in a unique asset that bridges physical merchandise and digital interaction.

This project stands as a focused example of how custom illustration can evolve beyond print to create memorable, interactive experiences for a brand.