I wanted to bring a few illustrations I had previously created to life and also learn some Adobe After Effects skills, so I made these short animations of my Cryptids of West Virginia set. I formatted them for optimal viewing on Instagram. All motion graphics were created using Adobe After Effects, and all animations were created in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Inspiration was taken from 1980s sci-fi and horror, with a strong emphasis on low fi VHS tapes, and 8mm film.
The goal for this animation was for it to have an old VHS tape look and feel to it, like one you might rent from an video store in the 80s that was worn out.
What is the Flatwoods Monster?
The Flatwoods monster (also known as the Braxton County monster, Braxie, or the Phantom of Flatwoods), in West Virginia folklore, is an entity reported to have been sighted in the town of Flatwoods in Braxton County, West Virginia, United States, on September 12, 1952, after a bright object crossed the night sky.
The goal for this animation was for it to look like it was filmed on an old 8mm video camera
What is the Grafton Monster?
The Grafton Monster, also known as the "Beast of Grafton," is a large humanoid cryptid that's said to stalk the forests outside the town of Grafton, West Virginia- a former railroad boomtown located in the United States. It was originally sited in 1964 by Robert Cockrell, who worked as a reporter for the Grafton Sentinel.
The goal for this animation was for it to appear that your screen (or mind) was being hacked into by Mothman.
Who is the Mothman?
In West Virginia Folklore, the Mothman is a humanoid creature reportedly seen in the Point Pleasant area from November 15, 1966, to December 15, 1967. The first newspaper report was published in the Point Pleasant Register dated November 16, 1966, titled "Couples See Man-Sized Bird ... Creature ... Something". The national press soon picked up the reports and helped spread the story across the United States.
