The Ads by Anchor Explainer was done on spec and fully planned from storyboard to final based on an existing V.O. and sound design. I animated this Explainer in After Effects and character rigging was done with Duik Bassel.
Final + Storyboard side-by-side
After creating the storyboards, I quickly drafted up an edited animatic to map out the pacing and to spot any issues before animating. This gave me a firm foundation to stand on when creating assets, animating character, and chipping away at the many different scenes included in this explainer.
The idea of climbing up the levels of the options of ads manifested in unique environments for each icon.
Walk cycles and character movement were added last, giving moments some more life. (Thanks, Duik.) I created the character to have a friendly vibe and simple style for ease in rigging/animation.
I ended up opting for a blank face in the final to cut down on rigging time without damaging the likability of the character.