Role: Animator
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‍When British soul artist Sam Henshaw reached out for support on a special U.S. television performance, I had the honor of stepping in as the lead 2D animator to bring his vision to life. The ask: create hand-animated performance visuals inspired by the vibrant energy and aesthetic of his official All Good music video. The platform? A live guest appearance on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.

The Challenge
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Sam wanted to preserve the joyful, expressive feel of All Good while creating something new and dynamic to serve as the animated background during his televised performance. It needed to feel authentic, rhythmic, and visually cohesive with his brand—but also tailored to the unique atmosphere of a live music segment on late-night television.

My Approach

As a hand-drawn 2D animator, I developed a series of original animated loops and vignettes that captured the warmth, bounce, and charisma of Sam's sound. Working frame-by-frame, I drew from motifs and themes featured in the All Good video—colorful characters, subtle storytelling, and a bit of soulful chaos—to build visuals that would support his stage presence without overwhelming it.The final animation created a vibrant, living backdrop that added texture to the performance and translated beautifully to broadcast.

The Result

Sam’s performance aired on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, supported by my visuals running throughout the set. The animation not only complemented the live vibe but helped reinforce the joy and sincerity at the heart of Sam’s music.This collaboration was a personal highlight—bringing soul, rhythm, and character to life through illustration, and contributing to a moment of real-time musical storytelling on national TV.