HATED

“HATED” comes across as a gritty, visual manifesto, mixing bold design with urban culture’s rawness. The imagery feels like a dive into a chaotic, yet controlled world—where smoke and surreal elements collide with sharp-edged streetwear aesthetics. It captures the tension between artistry and aggression, with each frame expressing an unfiltered, underground ethos. The visuals evoke a sense of rebellion, setting a scene that feels as though it’s teetering on the edge of the real and the hyper-stylized, much like the culture it’s representing.

The color scheme in “HATED” plays a crucial role in amplifying its intense atmosphere. It uses a striking palette of deep blacks, fiery reds, and stark whites, which contrast sharply to evoke feelings of urgency and raw energy. The dark tones provide a gritty backdrop, while the vibrant colors slice through, drawing attention to key elements and creating a sense of movement. This use of color helps convey a blend of defiance and style, embodying the underground streetwear scene’s bold attitude and edgy spirit. Duties include art direction, motion design, sound design & score.

Year:October 11, 2021Production:HATEDDuties:Art direction & Motion Design, Score & Sound Design

The Process


The statue was crafted in ZBrush by traditionally trained and digital sculptor Alex Mendonza, capturing intricate details to anchor the piece with a sense of artistry and authenticity. The motion design was built and animated in Cinema 4D, incorporating dramatic lighting and dynamic camera movements. To add atmospheric depth, volumetric simulations were created in Embergen, bringing smoke and fluid energy into the compositions. These elements were rendered using Octane Render for photorealistic textures and lighting, while final compositing and color grading were executed in After Effects to amplify the mood and deliver seamless integration.

This cohesive workflow resulted in a visually captivating narrative that captures the rebellious spirit of "HATED".

Visual effects breakdown showcasing some of the process & steps from original raw rendered sequence on the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) to the final composition. Motion design in Maxon Cinema4D while rendered on Otoy Octane Renderer. Smoke simulations were generated with JangaFX Embergen to speed up the workflow, while all elements were composited & graded in Adobe After Effects.

Credits:
Art Direction
: John Katehis
Sculpting: Alex Mendonza
Score & Sound Design: v.withease, John Katehis

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