Giving Chivalware a Distinct Visual Identity through Animation
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Animation and video games have always gone hand in hand. Beyond bringing characters to life in gameplay, animation also plays a vital role in trailers, cutscenes, and promotional content that capture players' attention from the very first glance.
For this project, DeeDee Animation Studio was responsible for the animation production of the reveal trailer for Chivalware, an upcoming fast-paced roguelite action game published by Dotemu, a renowned French game publisher. Combining gameplay footage with original animated sequences, the trailer offers players a first look into the world and spirit of the game.
Project Information:
Project: Chivalware | Reveal Trailer | Coming Autumn 2026
Client: DotEmu
Category: Game Trailer
SOW: Scriptwriting based on client outline; Storyboarding; Supporting Character Design; Animation
Production Year: 2026
The Challenge: Recreating the Feel of Traditional Ink Line Art
One of the project's most distinctive requirements was its visual style. The client wanted the line art to feel as though it had been drawn with a traditional ink pen, featuring lively, organic strokes instead of the clean and uniform outlines commonly seen in digital animation.
In addition, the supporting cast needed to be redesigned to remain faithful to the game's original aesthetic while matching the main character provided by the client. The designs also had to be robust and flexible enough to support dynamic action sequences while working seamlessly with the stylized line art approach.
The Solution: An Open Call for Ideas Across the Studio
The stylized line art required for this project involved techniques DeeDee had never explored before. The challenge was not only to achieve the desired artistic result but also to develop a workflow that could be applied efficiently throughout production.
Rather than assigning the task to a small team, DeeDee launched an internal open call, inviting animators from across the studio to experiment and propose their own solutions for creating the ink-inspired line quality requested by the client.
The initiative received an enthusiastic response. Multiple approaches were tested, all aiming to create natural variations in line thickness and texture while maintaining the level of control necessary for animation production.
After rounds of experimentation and evaluation, the final solution came from one of DeeDee's Senior Animators. By combining Line Building Mode and Animate Pencil in Toon Boom Harmony, the team successfully created subtle, natural line fluctuations that closely resembled hand-drawn ink strokes while preserving consistency throughout the animation.
The Result: Solving a Complex Challenge Together
The final trailer received highly positive feedback from the client. The animation not only captured the energetic action of the game but also successfully reproduced the medieval-meets-futuristic visual style envisioned by the development team.
More importantly, the project allowed DeeDee to develop and refine a new technical workflow for creating handcrafted line art effects. The knowledge gained throughout the production process has since become a valuable addition to the studio's creative toolkit, opening up new possibilities for future projects that require hand-drawn aesthetics, ink-inspired visuals, or similarly artistic animation styles.
Sometimes, the greatest value of a project lies not only in the final result, but also in the new techniques, knowledge, and collaborative problem-solving experiences gained along the way.
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