Inspired by Google Doodles, this whimsical short animation centers around French impressionist composer Maurice Ravel and his piece Une barque sur l’océan (1906). I reimagined Ravel as a playful cartoon character, floating in the water with a lifebuoy. As he navigates the dreamy, rippling world his music evokes, he curiously observes his surroundings, as if drawing inspiration for his composition in real time.
To bring this vision to life, I designed and animated Ravel and the boat in Cinema 4D, refining the assets in Photoshop and compositing them in After Effects. I emphasized the impressionistic atmosphere with fluid water effects, gentle reflections, and the subtle sway of visual elements. The animation also incorporates a visualization of the musical notation, capturing Ravel’s creative process as each note emerges organically from the scene.
Presented as a framed painting titled Un Ravel sur l’Océan (A Ravel on the Ocean), the piece honors the timeless beauty of impressionist art and music.