Playing to Survive: von Cramm vs Hitler
Animation production: NICE!
This feature documentary, narrated by the legendary Pierce Brosnan, tells the story of Gottfried von Cramm—a forgotten hero not only of tennis, but also of LGBT rights. I had the privilege of directing and art-directing the animated sequences that depict key moments from Gottfried’s life.
The style, chosen by director Annette Baumeister, drew inspiration from 1930s Art Deco posters—an aesthetic true to Gottfried’s era. Although AI filters could have been used for stylization, we intentionally chose to create everything by hand in Blender and After Effects.