WhatsApp Status
The WhatsApp Status series is my longest tenure on a project to date. Originally hopping on board in September 2023, we wrapped up the project in August 2024. When I joined, the team was already 9 videos deep; and now, 7 more later, we are finishing strong with the 16th.
The purpose of the WhatsApp Status series is to provide a database of digestible and fun videos that highlight different features within the WhatsApp app. There are so many tools that easily go unnoticed, so it was our job to shed a little light on them.
My role on this project was Animation Lead. I build out the edits, provided the animation team with animation direction, corresponded with the client to determine how best to portray their ask, and make sure that the motion language stayed true to the WhatsApp brand.
Working within the same brand system for close to a year has offered valuable insight on how to push boundaries without straying too far outside of the box. We also got to animate some fun characters and illustrations, which is always a plus.
Status Sizzle Reel
As we neared the end of the Status project, our team decided we wanted to make an internal Sizzle Reel that looked back on the project as a whole. Below is that Sizzle, which sheds light on exactly what the project was meant to accomplish. It acts as an explainer, but also showcases just how much WhatsApp content we created over the year!
Individual Spots
Below are some of the individual spots that I led the animation team for. All of these spots were made using Adobe After Effects. Some of the character performances were roughed out in Cel, and then fleshed out using shape layers in After Effects.
For this, the final Status, WhatsApp asked us to make a spot showcasing the QR Code payment feature used in India. Through a story of a shopper at a fruit stand, we show how easy it is to sign up and use the QR scanning feature, while also keeping things secure.
Payments
Information Overload
This spot is all about how to manage “Information Overload”. Every day, we are bombarded with messages left and right, and it can get a little daunting to keep track, manage, and stay on top of things. Inside WhatsApp, there are specific features that help mitigate this feeling of being “overwhelmed”. The features we highlighted in this video were Filter Messages, Star Messages, Archive Messages, and Mute Threads.
Multiple Accounts
This spot is about WhatsApp’s Multiple Accounts feature. For those who use WhatsApp for both personal and professional purposes, or simply have the need for a second account, you can now do that without having the log-out of one and into another. This spot shows how to go about adding an account to your WhatsApp App. We also got to delve into some faux paper-craft animation, which was a fun switch up from what we had been doing up until that point.
Productivity
We all want to be more productive, don’t we? This spot was intended to highlight how specific WhatsApp features can be used to aid in being a more productive individual. Tools such as Pinning Messages, Edit Messages, and Send Reminders all help WhatsApp users be more streamlined and functional!
First Message Experience
It can be nerve wracking when we get a message from an unknown number. The same is true when you receive a message on WhatsApp from someone you aren’t sure you know. This spot highlights ways you can tell if someone is friendly or a potential scammer; and how to proceed once you decide which of the two they are. We took the approach of a detective scrutinizing the details of contact cards, and either blocking the unknown contact, or concluding they are safe and accepting the message.
Privacy
It is important to know that your messages are safe and secure while using WhatsApp. There are many different settings within the App for user to customize to their liking. This spot was intended to show the different privacy options within WhatsApp, and where to access them. We animated some fun illustrations to make this serious subject more approachable.