The Nitrogen Cascade

This was already uploaded to my Youtube account, but I figured maybe I'd crosspost this on my DA.

My thesis project for my Animation and Digital Arts bachelor's degree at the University of Southern California.

This project began in January 2009 and finished in May 2010 (so almost 1 1/2 years of production). Almost all the animated characters and effects were animated in Photoshop, then printed out and rotoscoped/painted by hand with prismacolor pencils, ink and watercolor paint. All backgrounds were digitally painted in Photoshop. This picture was composited using After Effects and edited in Premiere Pro.
Narration by Mark Cross
Music by Gareth Coker
Scientific advisor and co-writer is Professor Myrna Jacobson-Meyers (phd) of the Biology Department of the University of Southern California. It was through her awesome enthusiasm as a scientist and researcher that this film came to be. I was able to get my hands on scientific papers and research and her cross-checking to determine the veracity of all information presented.
Kathy Smith, who is an Associate Professor at USC, I also owe my gratitude. She heard I wanted to do a scientific educational short and put me in touch with Myrna. I'm hoping the success of this film in the festival circuit will inspire more USC filmmakers to combine their talents with the incredible research department on campus and create more amazing educational films to teach future generations.

(any debate regarding climate change will be removed as I consider it a distraction from the subject. This is to inform and educate about natural cycles and our impact on them and how this particular issue might be resolved through education and scientific understanding.

Discussion about science education, science visualization, art, etc, etc is encouraged)