Pretty Hurts (2023)
Date: April 2023
Medium: Short Animated Film
Tools Used: Blender & Adobe Premiere Software
Project Link: Pretty Hurts - Animated Short Film
Medium: Short Animated Film
Tools Used: Blender & Adobe Premiere Software
Project Link: Pretty Hurts - Animated Short Film
Overview
Pretty Hurts is a short animated film that satirizes modern beauty standards through humor and absurdity. The animation features personified beauty products that rebel against the very ideals they promote, ultimately challenging the viewer’s relationship with self-image and consumer culture.
Concept & Inspiration
✅ What inspired this project?
This project was inspired by the intense societal obsession with beauty products and how marketing influences self-worth and identity. The film playfully critiques how consumer culture constructs and reinforces beauty norms, often to the detriment of individuality and self-acceptance.
✅ What themes, emotions, or messages does it explore?
Consumer Culture & Beauty Standards – The film parodies how the beauty industry perpetuates unrealistic ideals.
Humour as Critique – Satirical storytelling disarms the audience, making serious themes more accessible.
Rebellion & Self-Identity – The personified beauty products fight back against their branding, metaphorically representing a shift in self-perception.
✅ Are there artistic, cultural, or theoretical influences?
Jean Baudrillard (Hyperreality & Consumerism) – His theories on media, signs, and simulacra inform the critique of beauty as a commodified illusion.
Satirical Animations (e.g., Logorama) – Inspired by the playful yet biting critique of advertising and branding.
Pop Art & Visual Culture – The film's exaggerated character designs and bold aesthetic choices reflect a pop-art sensibility, engaging with mass media and commercial imagery.
Process (Step-by-Step Breakdown)
✅ How was this project created?
Concept Development: Brainstormed ideas, characters, and storylines through sketches and storyboard creation.
Character Modeling: Designed and modeled characters using Blender, emphasizing exaggerated, humorous aesthetics.
Animation: Created digital animations within Blender, carefully syncing visuals with sound elements.
Sound Design: Developed original soundscapes and effects in Adobe Premiere to complement the narrative and enhance comedic timing.
Editing & Post-Production: Combined animation sequences and audio in Adobe Premiere for a seamless final cut.
✅ What tools, technologies, or software were used?
Blender (for modeling and animation)
Adobe Premiere (for editing, sound design, and final output)
✅ What challenges arose, and how did you solve them?
A key challenge was achieving effective comedic timing through animation. To overcome this, extensive iterative editing was undertaken in Adobe Premiere, using continuous feedback from peers and test screenings to refine pacing and timing.
Role & Collaboration
✅ Did you work alone or as part of a team?
This was a collaborative project within a small creative team.
This was a collaborative project within a small creative team.
✅ What was your specific role?
I was responsible for:
Character animation – Bringing the beauty products to life through expressive movement and timing.
Sound design – Creating an audio environment that complemented the satire.
Story development (uncredited) – Contributed to narrative refinement and comedic beats.
Reception & Audience Interaction
✅ Where was the work exhibited?
Pretty Hurts was selected for the York University Media Arts Showcase (2023).
✅ What was the response from viewers?
Audiences responded positively to the film’s humor and critical message.
Viewers praised its engaging visuals and sharp commentary on beauty standards.
Viewers praised its engaging visuals and sharp commentary on beauty standards.
✅ Awards, Press, or Engagement?
Selection for the York University Media Arts Showcase marked recognition of the film’s creative and thematic strength.
The film generated conversations about self-image and commercial influence, highlighting its cultural relevance.
The film generated conversations about self-image and commercial influence, highlighting its cultural relevance.
Reflection & Next Steps
✅ What did you learn from this project?
This project strengthened my skills in:
Animation timing & visual storytelling – Understanding how movement and pacing affect humor and narrative impact.
Sound design for comedic effect – How audio cues and silence shape viewer expectations.
Iterative feedback in creative projects – Peer critiques played a crucial role in refining comedic beats.
✅ What would you improve or change if you revisited it?
Enhance character expressions – Further refining facial animations for stronger comedic impact.
Experiment with voice acting – Adding dialogue or narration to deepen the satire.
Expand the concept – Develop into a series of satirical shorts critiquing different aspects of consumer culture.
