Animation
dreamcon:
cleanuniform
Dream Con ‘25
RDCWorld1 is one of my favorite content creator groups, so when I had the opportunity to work for them, I jumped at the chance!
Dream Con is a culture-shifting convention created by RDC that celebrates anime, gaming, and Black creativity. Since its founding in 2018, it has grown into one of the most vibrant fan gatherings in the US. The event highlights diverse voices in spaces that are often dominated by mainstream media. From cosplay and esports to original animated premieres, Dream Con brings storytelling, fandom, and community together.
In 2025, the convention made headlines with high-profile guests like Meg Thee Stallion. Its growing cultural impact has positioned the convention as a powerful platform for creators working at the intersection of pop culture and representation.
Synopsis
CleanUniform is a series created by RDC member Affiong Harris. The series follows Dasobi and Yung Kleen, two polar opposites who both have the power to activate UNIFORMS, powerful forms which give them elemental powers. The duo navigate drug deals, criminal organizations, and their roles within the streets.
the brief
Do you remember when you were watching TV and a commercial would play selling CD box sets? A huge collection of artists would sing into the void as you try to figure out who these people were and if the TV had always been this loud.
For this year’s artist showcase, Clean Uniform crashes the party in the middle of Aff’s performance, singing songs of their own along with a short interview-style segment to introduce the characters.
Project Manager
Lizzie Ashliegh
Timeline
6 weeks
Client
Affiong Harris
Event Premiere
Dream Con 2025
my role:
2d Character animator
I animated 4 character-driven scenes featuring Dasobi, which emulated old CD music videos, while still providing dynamic content and anime sensibilities. My task was to take rough boards and elevate them into final, full-color sequences, while maintaining RDC’s anime-rooted movement vocabulary and Clean Uniform’s design aesthetic.
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Dasobi (pictured right)
Music Videos and Intro
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4 unique scenes with a total of 25 sec of animation
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Keyframe animation
Clean -up and in-betweens
Coloring
Character consistency and expressivity
character design: Dasobi
The process began with internal character sheets and design references. While I wasn’t responsible for the initial character design, I used these materials to define pose language, facial exaggeration, and gesture arcs in my keyframes while remaining on model. The goal was to maintain a crisp, dynamic energy that combined the vibe of CD-era music videos with modern anime conventions.
animation pipeline
After being given a storyboard for each scene, I started with laying out the keyframes. From there I would create the rough animation which would lead into the clean-up and then flats. If I had more time, and owned the compositing, I would’ve also loved to finesse lighting and environmental FX. But within the scope, I focused on maximizing clarity, snap, and expressive poses.
Scene 4 from roughs to flats
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Here I’m focused on expression, posing, and composition. How do I convey Dasobi’s character and emotion within the scene? What are unique moments that can bring these out?
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Here I’m focused solely on movement and timing. How and when does Dasobi get to each key pose?
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Here I am focused on quality and consistency, making sure that Dasobi matches. the character and expression sheet throughout the scene. AKA staying on-model.
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This is where the base color is aplied. Dasobi had two color palettes: one for his normal attire and one for when his “UNIFORM” activated.
spec work: compositing
While I was not responsible for backgrounds or compositing in the final video, I used this opportunity to refine my skills in these disciplines. I wanted an environment closer to the reference which would allow me to play with lighting differently than in the released version.
Full render of my version of scene 2.