Blind Spots in the Sun:
Rudolf Duala Manga Bell - A German Story
SUMMARY
This animated piece explores the life and legacy of Rudolf Duala Manga Bell (1873–1914), a regional leader located in present day Cameroon and anti-colonial figure who resisted German occupation. The film blends historical narrative with expressive, stylized visuals to how Germany came to colonize Cameroon in the late 19th and 20th century. My role focused on bringing animation to parts of the film that requires a deep metaphor using motion, pacing, and visual symbolism.
WORK PROCESS
To create the motion graphic video with a quick turnaround time, I would start by organizing all the assets given into labeled folders for easy access, then build a storyboard or rough sequence in After Effects to establish the pacing and transitions needed for the scene. Using the client’s notes I imported and cleaned up the assets—adjusting resolution, color, and format as needed—before animating key elements using precomps, masks, and motion curves for smooth, cohesive movement. I timed visuals to match any audio, using motion blur, easing, and dynamic cuts to maintain flow. Finally, I went over client revisions by keeping layers modular and render-ready, ensuring the final export was optimized for the intended platform.
The film was projected on 2 screens at 16:9 Widescreen aspect ratio each.
AFTERMATH
Based on the client’s reply, the showing of this film was a huge success and I am proud to of been a part of it. It has won several awards throughout Europe and was overall well received by audiences.
Part the film represents the extortion and abuse the region was facing when colonized.
Some scenes required precise timing and movement to align with the changing of the images.
Name was shown in the credits.