Temptation Street

Designed and directed by Design Lad, short film ‘Temptation Street’ captures the everyday temptations that so easily steer us off course - whether it’s cravings, old habits, or the subtle lure of persuasive adverts.

A playful tug-of-war between temptation and willpower, we see larger-than-life snacks come to life with irresistible charm. Utilising his signature dark humour, 3D illustrator and director Design Lad crafts an urban world ‘where nutrition goes to die’, complete with a cast of unsavoury characters.

Technical / Process

Design Lad used a mixture of 2d and 3D techniques in After Effects, Photoshop, Cinema4D and RedShift to achieve the desired look for the film. With a background in graphic design, Design Lad found great joy in the small details throughout the environments and characters. The creation process of the film provided a chance for him to develop new processes, as he was able to expand his understanding and application of animating characters, allowing for a greater freedom of motion and expression throughout the cast.

Using reference photos from locations in London and Brooklyn, as well as Google Street View, Design Lad was able to add recognisable charm to each scene and convey the sense of the setting being a regular high street you could walk down. Alongside the street views, the scene backgrounds were created in Photoshop and combined with the animation, creating a layered and textural overall look.

Characters

Peppering establishments such as ‘Sinful Slices’ and ‘Indulge ‘n’ Fold’, a mafia-style burger boss and gang of sidekicks work tirelessly to entice our protagonist into giving in to temptation.

Design Lad's love for crafting vibrant and energetic characters comes to life in Temptation Street where he was able to richly personify the mischievous foods through the expansion of his character animation and rigging skills

"The concept came to life during a quick work trip to London, where I had set out with no plans to spend money or eat unhealthily. Yet, from the oversized adverts filling the train station to the endless rows of enticing restaurants, temptation was everywhere. Before I knew it, I’d given in, buying food I didn’t even enjoy—a small reminder of how hard it is to stay on track in a world full of clever persuasion."

- Design Lad

Style

Playing with character and narrative, Design Lad opted for a trailer-style structure to increase the drama, and challenge himself to craft a piece that demands a tight, effective use of narrative. After all - no trailer is complete without a high octane chase scene!

To continue the cinematic feel of the film, Design Lad filled the animation with easter eggs and callbacks to previous characters and projects of his, alongside building a weaving world narrative into the minute film that helps build a universe beyond the animation.

Sound

Working closely with Box of Toys to steer the sound design and voice over, Design Lad wanted a dynamic blend of playful mischief and delicious energy.