As our MGFX team grows and expands into new territories, we wanted to give you an insight into its talent. Who is behind the scenes, conjuring up our motion graphics magic? Closing off this series with a bang, meet Ross Sneddon. First joining Revenant as a Senior Designer in 2023, his incredible talent and dedication led him to later become our Head of Motion in 2024.
Who or what inspired you to get into the art of MGFX?
I’ve always enjoyed working in different mediums. However, growing up, it was films that really inspired my passion for the moving image. Back in my teens, I would edit together clips of my favourite films/ TV shows and videogames to music that elicited some sort of
emotional reaction. As years went on, I would then shoot my own footage and cut together short films, which I still do to this day. So when I studied graphic design, it opened a whole new world of communication to me. I was naturally drawn to motion graphics, which felt like an extension to the craft.
And who/what inspires you now?
I draw my inspiration from many places. When I see what other artists and designers are doing, it can invigorate me to try harder and explore new things. Attending events like the OFFF festival is a great example of that. It can be easy to feel alone at times, when you have your head down but seeing likeminded artists puts things into perspective. That
reassurance and love for the craft reminds me of why I do this job. I also love a good art book. My favourite is John Berger’s Ways of Seeing. It’s a collection of essays on how we perceive art and photography. A lot of the time, inspiration comes to me in the most
unlikely places. Sometimes all I need is my headphones and a long walk to get inspired.
What would your dream project look like?
I have a few dream jobs. One is to work on a film like Alien or Bladerunner, which I imagine is a popular one. Another would be to direct a music video for someone like Radiohead.
The industry is changing more than ever right now. How do you see MGFX helping to shape the future of animation and VFX?
I think MGFX helps elevate the quality. Not only are designers multi–disciplined, but they also have an eye for composition and design that can be invaluable. I believe Motion Designers and
3D artists can be a perfect match to explore new boundaries and widen the scope. FUI is one example, where bringing a well–considered piece of design into a scene can elevate the story telling and bring layers of meaning to the work. I believe the more we build these working
relationships, the more possibilities there are.
Lastly, what’s your favourite project you’ve worked on at Revenant, and why?
I would have to say the animation we did for Luxembourg Space Agency. Back when we were just a handful of designers, me and Craig Simmers worked on this from start to finish. The creative freedom we had was unlike anything we had worked on. We were given great content to work with and it allowed us to get highly creative with the motion design. It was the ideal MGFX job, that was complimented by Craig’s beautiful 3D renders. As much as I love working in
production teams, nothing beats a more intimate team of just a few artists.
Keep up with Ross’ incredible work over on his Vimeo, here.