Frank and Drake: Finding Creative Cohesion in Diversity

Blending different worlds: A challenge

This is the foundational concept of Frank and DrakeIt was a great opportunity to show how different communication levels and empathy can help us find common ground in our diverse, unique identities. It is true for characters, and the relationship between them without having to be physically in contact. However, it extends beyond this. It affected the entire development almost unconsciously. The use of mixed art created a unique atmosphere.

Art and Animation – A Collage of Styles Harmonized

The world of Oriole City is presented mostly via illustrated backgrounds that present an accurate – yet stylized- architecture where nothing is distorted or out of proportion. Our lead artist Romina Correa defined with her style this layer of “reality” in juxtaposition with the rotoscoped protagonists, that live in the spectrum of surrealism. In other places, the art is done in different ways: rough pencils and black-and-white drawings in journal sketches or flashbacks; stencils and graffiti on the walls and streets of certain areas and murals. This visual melting pot was created by working with a variety of artists, including those who are versatile.

Multi-disciplinary creativity also influenced the motion visuals. These rotoscoped animated videos are impressive for obvious reasons. (And they’re the hardest to make, as over 8,000 frame drawings!The rotoscoped animations are the most impressive (and time-consuming, with over 8,000 frames drawn!). There are also many frame-byframe animations, without video footage, that can be useful for supporting the narrative.

Music: The Rhythm of Light and Dark

Kai Engel was already well-known to us from the music of our last game, Stay. We had a goal to achieve. Frank and DrakeThe goal was to create a setting for both the daytime and evening that would reflect how both characters experienced their world. You can navigate easily between the two stories by contrasting the hip-hop beats of Frank to the jazzy vibes provided by Drake.

Narrative: Two Voices, One Big Mystery

Ana Monteiro, our Narrative Designer and writer, faced a unique challenge when crafting a dual-protagonist story. Some rules needed to be followed to make it work: define unique voices with respective personalities and perspectives, so they couldn’t react to conflict in equal ways. Character arcs that reveal a shift in beliefs and behavior as a sign of growth were also needed. All these conflicts within had to be pitted against a conspiracy outside, which would eventually bring their fates together.

Ultimately, Frank and DrakeThe story is about the strength of community, how an odd (and sometimes bizarre) city like Oriole can be home to many people who are usually considered outcasts of society and coexist in harmony with their diverse realities. The unexpected is beautiful, and the differences are welcomed in a cooperative, supportive manner. The combination of different art forms was meant to capture that essence. It was never about perfection, but finding a cohesive identity in this fragmented, honest identity.

You will enjoy learning about the history of Frank and Drake.