Retelling Kevin's heartfelt story through animation 
This project was made for the Digital Storytelling module at the University of Leeds. The brief was to produce a genuine digital story based on a real subject’s life in a format of our own choosing. 
Concept
The story I have chosen to tell is about a student (Kevin) and his journey studying in Leeds as an international student. Throughout his study, he kept a diary that logged the events that happened to him while in the UK. He graciously lended me a copy, in which I used as a starting point for this digital story.
The story focuses on Kevin's journey from Indonesia to the UK, and the issues that came with it. After arriving Leeds, Kevin’s initial accommodation was cancelled due to his deposit not going through and several visa issues. Consequently, Kevin must find new accommodation within two weeks before university starts.
After further consideration, I decided on telling the story as an animated video. Rather than recreating a scene in live action, animation offers greater flexibility to communicate through symbolism. It can approach difficult topics tactfully but with enough weight to indicate significance. Voice over and sound effects were also added to help give an immersive experience to the audience.
The title of the story "Kemana Pun Kamu Pergi" (Indonesian for "Wherever I go, there you are"), is a line taken from Kevin's diary he kept throughout his studies. It's a personal reminder that God will always be there for you, especially during difficult times.
Script and Storyboard
Style Exploration
As the story was based on a written diary in Kevin's notebook, I wanted the animation to feel as analogue as possible despite using digital tools to produce it. Throughout the process, I experimented with several colour schemes, animation techniques, as well as illustration styles. After several iterations, I found that the hand-drawn style in black and white felt the most personal and raw, which became the final style of the animation
Credits
Motion Design: Corina Gunawidjaja
Voiceover: Andrew Wangsu