Frank and Drake: Finding Creative Cohesion in Diversity

Challenging the fusion of different worlds

basic idea of frank and drake It allowed us to express how our unique and diverse identities can find common ground of understanding through different levels of communication and empathy. This principle applies to, but goes beyond, the characters themselves and their non-contact relationships. Almost unconsciously, it affected all layers of development, creating a unique atmosphere as a result of the use of mixed art.

Art and animation: collages in harmonious style

The world of Oriole City is mostly represented by an illustrated backdrop, showing a precise yet stylized architecture that is neither distorted nor disproportionate. Our lead artist, Romina Correa, has defined this layer of ‘reality’ in her style alongside rotoscoping protagonists who live in the realm of Surrealism. However, other examples in the game show a variety of techniques, including rough black and white pencil drawings (flashbacks), ballpoint pen drawings (diary sketches), stencils and graffiti (street walls), and even oil painting imitations (wall paintings in specific locations). By working with artists who are not only different but versatile, we were able to create this visual crucible within the boundaries of lore.

This interdisciplinary creative approach has also inspired visuals in motion. Rotoscoping animation stands out for obvious reasons (it takes over 8,000 frames to draw, so it’s the slowest!), but there are plenty of other frame-by-frame animations without footage as references to support the narrative, and even 3D models that are very useful for complex rotations and interactions.

Music: Rhythm of Light and Darkness

I knew Kai Engel well from his work on the soundtrack from my last stay at the game.goal in frank and drake The goal was not only to provide unique settings for both day and night, but also to project the way both characters experience reality. Contrasting Frank’s hip-hop rhythms with Drake’s jazz vibes provides a beautiful contrast, allowing you to move between characters and fully feel the emotional impact of both stories.

Story: Two Voices, One Big Mystery

Creating a story with two main characters was a new challenge for writer and narrative designer Ana Monteiro. I had to follow some rules to make it work. That is, they were unable to respond equally to conflict as they defined their own unique voices with their own personalities and perspectives. I also wanted a character arc that reveals changes in beliefs and behavior as evidence of personal growth. And all these internal conflicts had to collide with external conspiracies that would at some point consolidate their destinies.

in the end, frank and drake tells a story that embraces the power of community. How a place as bizarre (and often bizarre) as Oriole City can become home to so many people who are labeled as social outcasts, where real-life diversity can coexist with respect. A place where beauty is found in the unexpected and differences are embraced cooperatively and collaboratively. We tried to combine multiple art forms throughout the game to maintain its very essence. The goal was not to pursue perfection individually, but to find a coherent quality within this honest and fragmented sum of identities.

I hope you enjoy the story of Frank and Drake.