For this shot, I tried to really play into this character's personality, how would he manipulate this weapon, and how would he, as a stoic character, react to a dire situation. This was an extremely fun challenge, I always jump at the chance to discover how different characters act in their face and body language.

Initially for this shot, I was provided with a single pose to work from. In the original storyboards and layout, this character, the Lich King, was motionless, merely bracing against the wind. However, I wanted to inject more intensity into the scene, portraying him as a resilient villain who wouldn't succumb easily, fighting all the way until his last breath. The team warmly embraced my personal interpretation. It's moments like these that fuel my passion for animation and the opportunity to bring characters to life in my own unique way to push a story forward.

This gritty and nuanced shot depicts the hero's desperate attempt to reclaim his ground while being overpowered, using every last bit of his strengh to save his friends and his sacred temple. Above all, I genuinely think this was the hardest thing I have ever animated, and also the most rewarding. This was such a fun opportunity to explore such detailed nuance so early on in my career. 

Having been given the opportunity to animate one of the final shots in the film, I was thrilled to embrace this challenge, especially since I had never animated a quadruped before. The experience became a valuable learning opportunity for me, and I'm immensely grateful to have been trusted with such an important moment in the film.