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This animatic-style render shows a cross-section of a cell membrane, where virus particles bind to surface receptors — revealing molecular interactions in action.

  • Writer: Sam w SingleCell Animation
    Sam w SingleCell Animation
  • Sep 9
  • 4 min read

The Spark That Started It

For me, sometimes the story behind the idea drives the creative process.

It’s where the work meets emotion and finds its structure.


This post isn’t just about one image. It’s about the learning and discovery that revealed how storytelling in the creative process shapes creative work.


This image was inspired by a series of animations and anatomical illustrations we were working on for orthopedic health. Business as usual...then a spark hit me. I didn’t know exactly what it was yet, but I knew I wanted to express something more.


Anatomical illustration of a ballerina foot en pointe blending 3D and photography, created to explore storytelling in the creative process.
An anatomical illustration of a ballerina’s foot en pointe, created by blending 3D rendering and photography. This project highlights how storytelling in the creative process transforms technical anatomy into visual narrative.

Searching for the Story

I let the idea swirl for a few days, searching for reference and inspiration. Nothing clicked.


What’s the story?

That’s always the question at the heart of the creative process.


About a month later, I stumbled across my niece’s jewelry box. She opened it, the music played, and the little ballerina began to spin.


And suddenly... 💡


From Spark to Obsession

From that moment, I was obsessed.

I woke up with the idea. Fell asleep with it. Even dreamed about it.


At first, I pictured an elaborate 3D jewelry box, a ballerina, maybe even a cartoon version of my niece running in to play with it. I imagined using zBrush, Substance Painter, sound effects, music... all the bells and whistles.


But then reality hit.

If I overcomplicated the idea, I might never start.


So I stepped back and asked some questions we ask on every project...

  • What’s the point?

  • What am I trying to say?

  • What am I trying to accomplish?

  • What makes this interesting?


Finding the Core Image

The answer became clear.


It wasn’t just about showing a ballerina. It was about showing what the body endures, the years of repetition, the wear and tear, the beauty in the mechanics.


The obvious image revealed itself... a ballerina en pointe.


Once the idea took hold, I knew it had to live somewhere between photography and 3D. I had only a week, so I needed the best of both worlds.


I started searching for a background. Not just any image, but one with mood, contrast, and the potential to support visual storytelling.


Then I found it... a stock image of a ballerina practicing in front of a mirror.


Close-up of ballerina feet en pointe on a worn wooden floor with blurred dancer in the background, showing anatomy and storytelling in creative work.
Close-up of ballerina feet en pointe on a worn wooden floor, with a blurred dancer in the background. Every detail — from the setting to the anatomy — became part of the storytelling in creative work.

Visual Storytelling in the Details

I loved how simple it felt. Stripped down. No distractions, no props. Just the foot carrying the weight of the story.


Every detail became part of the storytelling. The mood. The framing. The worn floor suggested history. The blurred dancer in the distance was more than background. It was a reminder of the performance just beyond focus.


Together, these details set the stage.


I knew I wanted a square composition. Something that would draw the eye in. At the time, Instagram’s platform was built around square posts, so it made sense. I adjusted levels, shifted colors, and pushed the contrast to give the image more impact.


With the base in place, it was time to begin compositing the 3D anatomy.


Choosing What to Leave Out

Now the question.. how do I make this feel like it actually lives inside the photograph?


At first, I wanted to include everything. That decision is always the hardest.


But I remembered something I once heard..

an artist isn’t defined by what they add, but by what they choose to take away.


So I stripped it back to the skeleton and layered in detail from there.


To get it right, I had to imagine where the fat and muscle would actually sit.

  • How does it look inside this shoe?

  • How close is the bone to the skin?

  • How thick are the muscle and fat tissue?

  • How do the toes look under that kind of pressure?


Every adjustment was guided by these questions.


I tweaked the model, test rendered, adjusted the comp, then tested again. I jumped back and forth between Softimage, After Effects, and Photoshop, refining lighting and materials until I was content.


There were countless test renders and experiments, but they led to the final pass.


What This Project Taught Me

All the small choices added up, and I was happy with the result.


It’s a strange feeling when you know you’re done. You feel ready to show your peers, even if it leaves you open to judgment.


The work becomes an extension of you. You put yourself out there with the hope it resonates, and in the process, you build a thicker skin. You learn not to take opinions personally.


Looking back, there’s much I would improve. But I had given myself one week, and I had to follow through.


It was never about perfection. It was about shaping a story that gave the work its purpose, and reminded me why storytelling in the creative process matters.

  • Writer: Sam w SingleCell Animation
    Sam w SingleCell Animation
  • Aug 16
  • 2 min read
A futuristic AI assistant supports a group of creative professionals, highlighting how AI lightens workloads and enhances productivity in science-focused animation studios.
When your AI assistant becomes the MVP... lightening the load so your creative team can focus on what really matters.

Integrating AI Into Our Pipeline Changed Everything


In a field where deadlines are tight and expectations are high, every edge matters. For us, that edge has been AI in scientific animation. Not as a gimmick or shortcut... but as a genuine enhancement to how we work, deliver, and grow.


As a scientific animation studio, our job is to translate complex biological stories into visuals that resonate. That process used to be completely manual... from concept development to rendering and everything in between. And while that hands-on approach gave us creative control, it came at a cost... time, budget, and bandwidth.


More Capability, Same Team Size


What AI in scientific animation gave us wasn’t a replacement for talent... it was the ability to do more with the same team. Think of it like suddenly having five extra hands on a project without needing to hire five more people. We’re still leading the creative vision, but now we can move faster, test more ideas, and adapt more easily.


Some of the ways we use AI daily...

  • Brainstorming and iterating early visual concepts

  • Speeding up storyboard layouts and reference searches

  • Enhancing textures and effects with AI powered tools

  • Automating parts of our project management and client follow up


Cost Effective Without Cutting Corners


Here’s the real impact... because AI handles more of the repetitive or exploratory work, we free up more time for the parts of the process that really need a human touch... like scientific accuracy, visual storytelling, and client communication.


That means our timelines are leaner, our budgets are more flexible, and our team can focus where it counts most. For our clients, AI in scientific animation translates to high quality visuals that are faster, more responsive, and often more affordable than before.


We’re Not Replacing Artists... We’re Empowering Them


It’s easy to fear that AI will replace creative roles. But here’s the thing... we’ve been through this before. Photoshop didn’t replace designers. 3D didn’t replace illustrators. Motion capture didn’t kill animation. Every time a tool changes, so does the process... and we creatives evolve with it.


We’re still drawing, sculpting, editing, and obsessing over details... we just do it alongside tools that help us move quicker and smarter.


This Isn’t the End of Creative Work... It’s the Next Chapter


We don’t see AI as a threat... we see it as a multiplier. A way to expand what’s possible, not replace what matters.


In our studio, AI in scientific animation has made storytelling more cost effective, more efficient, and more scalable... and we’re embracing every moment.

Based in Hackensack, NJ — partnering with biotech, pharma, and healthcare teams worldwide.
© 2025 SingleCell Animation, LLC. All rights reserved.

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