Narrative and

Sequence Report
University of Greenwich ID Number: 001439013

FPT Student ID Number: GDH240088

Module Code: DESI1217

Module Assessment Title: Narrative and Sequence

Lecturer Name: Trần Anh Khoa

Submission Date: 22 November 2025

INTRODUCTION
For the final assignment, I
chose “String Theocracy” as
the base song for my motion
graphics project. The task
requires creating a 60-second
motion piece that tells a story “String Theocracy,” composed by
through graphic language — Project Moon, presents themes
using shapes, color, typography, of control, faith, and human
and symbolic imagery instead submission under higher powers
of live-action or character — concepts that align perfectly with
the course’s focus on expressive My approach is to translate the
animation. song’s narrative into a minimalist
visual storytelling. The song’s intense
rhythm and layered vocals convey a yet expressive motion sequence,
sense of divine authority intertwined using abstract forms and
with existential struggle, offering synchronized motion to represent
strong emotional and symbolic the tension between devotion
material for visual interpretation. and autonomy. The project
aims to transform the auditory
experience into a visual story,
where each movement, color, and
symbol reflects the psychological
and spiritual conflict suggested
by the music.
Song Lyris
Open the curtains At least make it interesting
Lights on theatrically
Don’t miss a moment When does it end for me?
Of this experiment Hmm
Oh, the book is strange I think I am done with
Like clockwork orange everything
Keep your eyes buttered till Now I’m ready to leave
the end Dragging out
Which “you” are you going to One line
be? Two lines
Hmm Three lines
Inside the mirror do you see Connect our hands
Someone else in that body? What’s the colour of the
Dance for me electric sheep you see?
One And And if you love me
two And Can you love your everything
three And too, for me?
Turn around sit like a doggy
Till I finish my read
Cut it off, cut down your loss
All that stubborn loyalty is
gonna get you killed
In a world built on convenient
theories
For the puppets on TV
There is comfort in the strings
If you’re gonna control me
Song Analysis
“Open the curtains The song begins like the start “ Oh, the book is Here, the reference to A Clockwork
of a theater performance. The strange Orange (a novel about conditioning and
Lights on curtain rising and lights turning on loss of free will) reinforces the theme of
Don’t miss a moment symbolize exposure — the character
Like clockwork orange forcedmoralityandpsychologicalcontrol.
Of this experiment ” is being observed, perhaps tested, Keep your eyes “Keep your eyes buttered” recalls
in an artificial environment. The buttered till the end “ the film’s iconic image — the
“experiment” implies that existence protagonist’s eyes held open —
itself is a controlled setup, where symbolizing involuntary awareness.
every action is monitored. This The question “Which ‘you’ are you
opening establishes the tone of going to be?” highlights identity
performance and manipulation, fragmentation: under manipulation,
where individuality is subjected to the self splits into roles, masks, and
higher forces. projections. The character questions
their authenticity in a world of control.

“Inside the mirror do The mirror is a metaphor for “Dance for me This passage mimics command
you see self-perception and alienation. One and and obedience — a controller
The singer no longer recognizes giving orders to a puppet.
Someone else in that themselves — what looks back is
two and The counting rhythm mirrors
body?” not “me,” but an image shaped by three and choreography, while “sit like a doggy”
others. It evokes existential dread: if turn around dehumanizes the subject. The “read”
our behaviors are conditioned, who Sit like a doggy implies the controller is interpreting
truly inhabits the body? Till I finish my read” or writing a script, positioning the
performer as part of a predetermined
narrative.
Song Analysis
“Cut it off, cut down Blind devotion — whether to ideology, “In a world built on This section is crucial. It exposes how
your loss religion,orauthority—leadstodestruction. convenient theories people willingly accept control because
The lyrics criticize dogmatic belief it brings comfort and simplicity.
All that stubborn systems where loyalty replaces thinking.
For the puppets on TV The “strings” — symbols of manipulation
loyalty is gonna get you The tone here shifts from command to There is comfort in the — become both prison and shelter.
killed” warning, revealing a cynical awareness: strings “ The line critiques modern society’s passive
obedience is not virtue, but suicide conformity, where mass media (“puppets
within oppressive structures. on TV”) reinforces convenient beliefs.
Philosophically, it touches on voluntary
servitude — the paradox of preferring
captivity over uncertainty.

“If you’re gonna control This line turns self-awareness into defiance.
me At least make it The singer acknowledges being
a puppet, but demands artistry in
interesting theatrically” manipulation — a kind of ironic pride.
It reflects meta-theatrical consciousness:
the subject knows the performance is
fake, yet chooses to play along, reclaiming
agency through aesthetic appreciation.
The result is tragic yet empowering —
resistance through awareness.
Moodboard
Storyboard
I first meant to do 1:47 motion graphics
long, but since it took too much effort Resauces List: Puppet Falling
Shot 6:
so I reduce it to 1:00. It from the start to Shot 1: Background
Curtain Puppet (lying on ground)
“If you’re gonna control me Background Puppet Faces
At least make it interesting theatrically” Girl sitting on chair Puppet Eyes (3 layer for animating)
Library
In this motion graphics, I will draw Shelf (2 layer)
some scene on clip studio paint first, Hand taking book
then use those image to work in Shot 2:
Adobe After Effect. I will use alot of Books layer
layer to easier to work on After Effect. Inside books layer
Cogwheel (Seperates)
Shot 3:
Puppet
Mirror with person inside
Eyes
Shot 4 (Don’t need resources from
other files)
Shot 5:
Puppet (still state)
Puppet (Holding on strings state)
Puppet Side face (Normal)
Puppet Side Face (Shock)
Hand from side
Shot 1
Storyboard
On the first 4 sketch, the curtain
opened showing a puppet in a shape
of a girl sitting. And the background
full of mirror. Then the scene change
into a library room, which are full of
books. And she took one of them

“Open the curtains

Lights on
Don’t miss a moment
Of this experiment ”

“In a world built on

convenient theories
For the puppets on TV
There is comfort in the
strings “
Shot 2
This shot showing a book opened,
then inside of is are full of cog wheel
spinning. One of them have an eye
inside, which reference to the movie
poster “Clockwork Orange”. The scene
then zoom into the black pupil until
the screen turn all black.

“Dance for me
One and
two and
three and
turn around
Sit like a doggy
Till I finish my read”
Shot 3
Light open showing the girl puppet,
looking into the mirror seeing herself
in a different world where she is
not a puppet and free of the string
controlling her.

Keep your eyes

buttered till the end “

“Inside the mirror do

you see
Someone else in that
body?”
Shot 4
This scene will be work completely on
After Effect. Since it all words so I don’t
need to draw anything before putting
it in.

“Dance for me
One and
two and
three and
turn around
Sit like a doggy
Till I finish my read”
Shot 5
She tired of being controlled so she
pulled those string, it break. But then
she fall down since she lost those string
that held her.

“Cut it off, cut down

your loss
All that stubborn
loyalty is gonna get you
killed”
“In a world built on
convenient theories
For the puppets on TV
There is comfort in the
strings “
Shot 6
A light appear in the dark space,
camera showing her face showing
tired emotion that had accept the
unchanging state she’s in. This was
the end of 1 minutes motion graphics
sketch.

“If you’re gonna control

me At least make it
interesting theatrically”
Process

Shot 1 background, working in process Shot 1 Curtain, this was made after
watching tutorial on Youtube.

Shot 4, might change font

Key Frame
Working Process
To be honest, completing this project was a long,
exhausting journey filled with difficulties and constant
trial-and-error. I had to experiment with so many things
just to get the final result to this level. Even though the
process was extremely tiring and the outcome still isn’t
completely satisfying to me, I did manage to improve my
skills a lot along the way—and honestly, I did enjoy making it.

Alright, now let’s talk about how I actually

created this motion graphic piece.

First, I sketched out a storyboard and added the audio

to establish the pacing. This stage took quite a lot
of time because I had to brainstorm and figure out
what elements to include. My original storyboard was
almost two minutes long, but my instructor advised
me to finish a one-minute version first and only extend
it if I had extra time. So I shortened it to one minute.

To be real, I was a bit overconfident before starting, because

once I actually began working on a one-minute motion
graphic, it turned out to consume an absurd amount of time.

After completing the storyboard and knowing exactly

what I wanted to do, I started gathering resources
that I could use in After Effects. Those resources were
machine illustrations I drew in Clip Studio Paint. I had to
draw a lot, and it was my first time trying to use color in
CSP. Honestly, my illustrations turned out… acceptable?
Well, I had never used color before, so I guess that’s fine.

Once I had enough resources prepared, I moved on

to creating the motion graphics in After Effects. While
working, I researched tutorials on YouTube, asked ChatGPT
questions, and experimented with all sorts of things. And
then—tada—my final project was completed.
Video Link

[Link]
ZlTThckGZqd2YEPUXVz-YI8JWqzf/view?usp=sharing
REFERENCES
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link] — Cinematic text animation tutorial in AE
[Link] — Creative typography animation in AE
[Link] — Smooth text animation in AE
[Link] — Another kinetic typography tutorial
[Link] — Typography motion graphics in AE
[Link] — After Effects text motion tips