Towards CJ Ellis’ second year at Camberwell on the BA Illustration course, he discovered a love for filmmaking and animation, which was encouraged by his tutors and peers.

“My journey into animation stemmed from a strong background in traditional illustration. While I enjoyed creating still images, animation offered unique opportunities to bring my illustrations to life and make them more dynamic and engaging,” he tells CR. “The ability to intertwine audio with my visual work was particularly exciting, adding an extra layer of depth to my work.”

For Ellis, animation allows him to explore movement, timing and the interplay between audio and visual elements to create a richer storytelling experience. “Through this combination, I feel I can convey emotions and narratives more effectively, making my work both more engaging and impactful.”

Throwing himself fully into the world of animation, the last year has been about developing a distinctive style and seeing what topics he’s interested in creatively. Ellis sees his animation work as playful, childlike combined with a focus on integrating audio with visual elements.

“The use of cute, whimsical imagery and bright, vivid colours creates a sense of warmth and accessibility,” he says. “I am not traditionally trained in animation. Therefore, I think I bring a sense of ignorance to my animations, giving them a raw, original style.”

This rawness is something Ellis has learned to embrace with his uni tutor saying “animation is jut a series of bad drawings put together”. Previously the animator had been focused on perfecting every frame, but he’s learned to look at the bigger picture. “By understanding that animation is about the sequence as a whole rather than each individual frame, I began working more efficiently and would maintain momentum on my projects and make deadlines without stressing.”

In terms of themes, humour is where Ellis feels most comfortable, but this foundation allows him to explore more serious topics, balancing the light with the dark. “Themes such as mental health, relationships, and music are central to my projects, allowing me to explore these subjects in a subtle yet engaging way,” he says. “By blending humour with these deeper themes, my goal is to create animations that are both entertaining and thought-provoking. This combination of style and thematic exploration is a key part of my creative practice.”

His third year final project follows this thinking with Nana, an animated short inspired by his grandmother’s experiences with dementia. Capturing the beauty, confusion and the fleeting moments of connection, it was a particularly personal experience.

“I was drawing her apartment from my own memories of visiting her as a child. This added an extra layer of nostalgia and authenticity to the film,” Ellis reflects. “I also incorporated a few inside jokes and elements with special meaning for close friends and family, enriching the narrative with personal significance. The photographic montages were based on real photos too.”

Music was a key element to the short – as Ellis’ grandmother was a huge Elvis fan it only seemed right to use his song Forget Me Never, with the track exploring themes of loss, love and remembrance. “The song’s emotional depth is highlighted by imagery such as falling stars, symbolising the lasting impact of memories despite life’s changes. This metaphor particularly resonated with me due to its reflection on the bittersweet nature of love and memory,” he says.

“Additionally, I distorted the audio of the song in certain parts to highlight the fragmented and disorienting experience of dementia. These distortion techniques were intended to immerse the viewer in the confusion experienced by those affected.” Outside of Nana, Ellis recently worked on an animation project for UAL Art Temps, creating content for social media platforms. The animation centred around a character who follows his dreams to become an artist rather than continue his job as a bartender.

“One of the biggest challenges of this project was the tight deadline. I had only five days to create a one-minute-long animation. This time constraint meant I had to make quick decisions and compromise on certain compositions,” Ellis says. “Despite the challenges, the project was a valuable learning experience. It taught me how to work efficiently under pressure and reinforced the importance of balancing quality with deadlines.”

Ellis is now taking time to refine and experiment and also to explore the ideas he has, via his goal of creating at least one 20-second animation each week. However, the animator is realistic about the challenges that lie ahead for freelance creatives.

“The creative industry faces challenges related to funding and support for independent artists. Securing resources to produce high-quality work and reaching audiences without the backing of major studios or platforms remains a significant hurdle for a lot of creatives,” he says. “I am prepared to face these obstacles and view them as opportunities to further develop my skills as a creative professional.”

One way he plans to do this is through collaborations with other creatives, and build his network of creators, all the while establishing himself in the industry. “As someone who isn’t traditionally trained in animation, I hope that my unique blend of industry-standard techniques and unconventional approaches can inspire a new wave of DIY, lo-fi animation,” he says. “My goal is to showcase true personality and human connection in a modern world, proving that creativity thrives outside conventional norms.”

@double.loser