Head of Story
Yugly
Yugly is a heartfelt animated feature about an unconventional little dog navigating the glamorous world of elite beauty competitions in search of belonging, love, and a place to call home.
As Head of Story, I worked closely with the directors to help shape the film’s emotional arc, comedic tone, and visual storytelling language throughout development and production.
In addition to overseeing the story department, I personally storyboarded several key sequences, helping define the film’s cinematic language, emotional tone, and storytelling approach for the rest of the storyboard team.
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build and structure the story department
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Recruited, mentored, and supervised a growing storyboard team.
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Created a story outline during early development, forming the foundation for many sequences.
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Rewrote sequence from the original draft, to emphasize the narrative point and make it work visually.
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Reworked and refined sequences through story revisions, retakes, acting passes, and visual storytelling adjustments.
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Wrote and storyboarded several key sequences focused on emotional clarity, comedic timing and cinematic staging
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Worked closely with directors and editing team to shape pacing, emotional rhythm, and narrative flow across the film.
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Provided ongoing creative feedback and story solutions throughout production as a close collaborator to the directing team.
Selected Personal Work
During the project, I had the opportunity to create early storyboard explorations to help establish the film’s visual and cinematic tone.
First Meal
Rewriting – Storyboarding – Editing
This sequence is about emotional safety and belonging. For an underdog like Yugly, it is the first time he is treated as a true member of a family. It becomes a defining emotional memory he will hold onto throughout the film, shaping what he is ultimately searching for.
It also introduces Molly and her world, revealing her personality, values, and deep love for dogs.
Created at the very beginning of development, this sequence was instrumental in defining Molly’s character and the tone of her universe. It served as a reference point for the rest of the film during early story exploration.
Rewriting
Storyboard Artist: Clément Mouchel
The Pound
Rewriting – Editing
After an early screening, we identified a classic issue: the lead was not having enough impact on the story. Yugly was sympathetic, but not yet active or essential to the narrative. More importantly, his defining trait, being “ugly but smart, with a big heart” was not fully expressed in the movie.
In the original version, Yugly and the other stray dogs escape the pound with the help of another character.
We reworked the sequence to better emphasize Yugly’s uniqueness. He actively uses what makes him different, his “ugliness” as a strength to orchestrate the escape. This shift creates a more comedic, self-aware sequence while reinforcing his role as the one who saves the stray dogs.
This moment also establishes the group he rescues as his future pack, and ultimately the family he has been searching for throughout the film.
Bath Time
Rewriting – Editing
Yugly is ultimately a story about finding your forever family.
In the original draft, Yugly simply “knew” his name without anyone ever giving it to him. We felt that naming a companion is a meaningful, symbolic gesture, an act of care and recognition that defines belonging.
This added sequence introduces that emotional step. Molly, a dog-loving caretaker, understands where Yugly’s name comes from and chooses to rename him herself. It becomes a seemingly light, but important moment of connection between them.
This moment quietly lays the foundation for a relationship that will become central to Yugly’s journey.
Storyboard Artist: Dario Sampaolesi
Editor: Astrid Novais
Mentoring & Reviews
Mentoring artists was a big part of my mission, the goal was to find the right balance between clarity, storytelling and cinematic impact.
Below are examples of how I help refine and rework sequences to ensure each moment fully expresses its emotional and narrative potential.
This frame is already strong, but at this point in the story, the characters are meant to realize they have been abandoned. The revision focuses on strengthening that emotional beat:
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Horizon lowered to reinforce symbolic isolation
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Characters small within an empty frame to emphasize uncertainty
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A held pause with silence to support the realization beat
Storyboard Artist: Dario Sampaolesi
In this sequence, the main character narrowly avoids being thrown into a river from a high bridge.
It is meant to feel dangerous and visually striking.
While the original shot included a counter angle, the emotional impact was not strong enough. Pulling the camera further back emphasizes the height of the bridge and the scale of the drop, strengthening the sense of danger and urgency.
Storyboard Artist: Carlo Rotolo
Script - Story Artist
Ichigo Studio
Ichigo is a rising French animation studio creating promotional short films on a variety of subjects.
I was commissioned on two of these shorts to develop the script and animatic based on a moodboard provided by the studio.
Observer
In her final moments, an astronaut begins hallucinating from a lack of oxygen, drifting into one last dream of Earth, and its beautiful orange flower fields.
Set in a realistic environment, I was responsible for the story development and storyboarding, shaping the film’s emotional arc and visual flow to immerse viewers in our character's fading consciousness.
Spark
Set at dusk in a peaceful Joseon-era courtyard, SPARK follows an intense duel between a sword master and his student. As tempers rise and blades clash, the student must learn to master his emotions to prove his worth.
With a semi-realistic art direction inspired by Asian animation, I developed the story and storyboards, shaping the film’s tone, pacing, and visual storytelling.
Concept Art: Dimitri James & Lena
Story Artist - Assistant Director
Chickenhare 2
A family-friendly adventure sequel where Chickenhare embarks on an epic quest to save his entire species. A story about the struggle for identity, embracing differences and the power of truth.
I contributed to this project as both a storyboard artist and assistant director, helping the director communicate narrative intentions clearly to the CG team throughout production. Here’s a sample of my work on the film:
Selected Work
SPLIT
With time running out, Chickenhare is forced to choose between his sister’s strategy and his closest friends, and reluctantly decides to split the team.
ALONE
Known more for his love of food than adventure, Abe finds himself alone in the jungle for the very first time. Trying to stick to the plan and stay brave, he soon realizes he might not be alone after all…
FIRST FLY
Chickenhare and his sister Gina have finally found the precious magical groundhog. But trapped on a collapsing old bridge, there’s no time to celebrate: it’s time for Gina’s very first flying lesson.
BROMANCE
After a bumpy first encounter, Abe and Pigsqueak launch into a fabulous dance-filled bromance through the jungle. With his new best friend by his side, nothing feels scary anymore.
THIEF
To help his sister, Chickenhare must secretly sneak into his beloved father’s room while he sleeps to steal the adventure map. Ashamed of his decision but determined to help her, he has no choice but to take the risk.