WILD BLUE SKIES: Announcement Trailer
Chuhai Labs
When the team behind Wild Blue Skies set out to create a cinematic game trailer, they wanted something that felt as heartfelt as it was high-octane, a love letter to classic anime and the golden age of hand-drawn motion. MAKE answered the call.
From the first frame, Wild Blue Skies was built on creative chemistry, a clear vision from the developers, and a shared nostalgia for 90’s adventure storytelling. What followed was a full-scale collaboration between our 2D and 3D teams, where traditional artistry met technical precision to craft a trailer that hums with life, texture, and soul.
VISUAL DEVELOPMENT
Our early visual development focused on capturing that perfect blend of retro anime and modern polish. We pulled inspiration from Cowboy Bebop, Macross, and the painterly sensibilities of 90’s game cinematics, crafting color keys that leaned into warm emulsion tones, cinematic contrast, and a subtle haze of nostalgia.
From sketch to composite, our goal was to make every frame feel like it had been loved, handled, and projected through a film reel, intentional imperfections and all.
MEET THE CREW: CHARACTER REFINEMENT
Every pilot in Wild Blue Skies had a story to tell through their design. Working closely with game art lead Michael Molinari, our 2D team streamlined the characters’ complex in-game uniforms into something animation-ready, keeping their bold silhouettes and detailing the emotional heart behind each gesture.
Led by MAKE Animation Director Joshua Schneider, we emphasized movement as storytelling: Thorn’s sprint, Roe’s posture, every hair flick and cockpit lean, each became a chance to showcase personality and spirit.
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT: ENVIRONMENT
The skies of Wild Blue Skies were more than backdrops, they were living, breathing stages. Our 3D environment artists built layered, stylized matte paintings that balanced tactile strokes with a feeling of real speed and scale. Clouds bloom, hangars glow with cinematic lens flares, and distant dogfights dance through vapor trails. Every pixel pulls you into a world that feels believable while taking you up and into the skies.
THE SKY IS THE LIMIT: ENVIRONMENT
The skies of Wild Blue Skies were more than backdrops, they were living, breathing stages. Our 3D environment artists built layered, stylized matte paintings that balanced tactile strokes with a feeling of real speed and scale. Clouds bloom, hangars glow with cinematic lens flares, and distant dogfights dance through vapor trails. Every pixel pulls you into a world that feels believable while taking you up and into the skies.
OUR PROCESS
From the first storyboard to final composite, artists were buzzing to be part of this one. Word spread fast, and Aaron Dabelow, Technical Director and supervisor of Wild Blue Skies, ended up portioning out shots so everyone got a chance to contribute. Our 2D and 3D teams worked in perfect sync, merging hand-drawn art with dimensional renders. We played with cel-shaded geometry, linework in 3d spaces, and hybrid techniques until every frame hit that sweet spot between painterly and physical. Purposeful film grain, bloom, and slight chromatic drift gave the piece that unmistakable analog warmth to hit the nostalgia feels.
ANIMATION
We animated like fans, not just craftspeople. Every movement was hand-drawn with care, keyframes packed with smears, arcs, and kinetic energy. The blend of traditional animation and 3D motion brought a tactile weight to every launch and barrel roll. This trailer moves the way Wild Blue feels: fast, fluid, and full of heart.
ANIMATION
We animated like fans, not just craftspeople. Every movement was hand-drawn with care, keyframes packed with smears, arcs, and kinetic energy. The blend of traditional animation and 3D motion brought a tactile weight to every launch and barrel roll. This trailer moves the way Wild Blue feels: fast, fluid, and full of heart.
VFX
Hand-animated smoke trails, hand-painted glows, and simulated light passes came together to sell the scale and power of jet engines… without breaking the 2D illusion. From the fiery afterburn of a launch to the subtle pulse of cockpit glass, the FX work helped fuse the world into a believable fantasy, evoking 90’s anime and a beloved childhood gaming session all at once.
VFX
Hand-animated smoke trails, hand-painted glows, and simulated light passes came together to sell the scale and power of jet engines… without breaking the 2D illusion. From the fiery afterburn of a launch to the subtle pulse of cockpit glass, the FX work helped fuse the world into a believable fantasy, evoking 90’s anime and a beloved childhood gaming session all at once.
BEYOND THE BLUE SKY
For MAKE, Wild Blue Skies was more than a project. It was a creative summer fling that reminded us why we fell in love with animation in the first place. A story of pilots chasing the horizon, and artists chasing that same high of motion, light, and heart. We cannot wait to see this game take flight.
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