DSK
This is a 2D animated music video created for South African rock artist Francois Van Coke’s song “Dominee Se Kind (DSK)”. The project reimagines
his punk-inspired identity through a rebellious and emotional narrative about breaking free from confinement and pursuing dreams beyond limits.
MY ROLE
Designer, Researcher, and Developer
SKILLS
Problem solving, Wireframing, Storyboarding, Animating, Video Editing
DURATION
5 weeks
THE PROBLEM
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The challenge was to visually capture Francois Van Coke’s grunge, punk energy while staying true to the emotional undertones of “Dominee Se Kind”. The video needed to engage existing fans while appealing to new audiences through storytelling that was bold, authentic, and experimental.
THE BRIEF
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Create a music video that represents the tone and identity of Francois Van Coke’s music, using animation and motion design to enhance the song’s narrative and energy.
THE SOLUTION
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The final video follows Francois, a young rat from the rooftops of Belleville, who escapes his confined life to perform a rock concert in space. Blending humour, rebellion, and the idea of endless possibilities, the animation uses grungy hand-drawn environments and characters to create a visually dynamic story that mirrors Van Coke’s themes of freedom and individuality.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
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Fans of Francois Van Coke and the South African alternative rock scene, as well as audiences who appreciate narrative-driven animation and experimental visual storytelling.
AIMS
To translate the rebellious spirit and emotional tone of “Dominee Se Kind” into an animated visual story that feels both nostalgic and unconventional.
OBJECTIVES
The objective was to develop a 2D animation style inspired by punk and grunge aesthetics, building a narrative that blends humour, rebellion, and endless possibilities, while combining mixed media to match the song’s rhythm and emotion, shaping a world that feels true to Van Coke’s energy and visual identity.
MEETING VAN COKE
NOTES I TOOK FROM THE MEETING
His Values - Honesty
His Views on DSK - The themes of the song consist of how youth influences you and never-ending possibilities (He liked the concept of travelling into Space).
The song is personal to him, and it follows a story of early youth (10 years old), getting older.
Styles he likes - Tales from the Tour Bus; At the Door -The Strokes; Gorillaz; The Beatles; Queens Of the Stone Age; Butthead; South Park; Metalocalypse; Old School 2D
Aesthetic - Black; Cool; Grunge; Punk; Pink, Red; Light refractions; Rock
Animation Desires - Relatability; Visual Aid to the storyline
Target Audience - 18-80 years old
CONCEPT
WHAT STOOD OUT
What stood out to me about DSK was the raw emotion of rebellion. The song captures that shift between innocence and chaos the moment when someone decides they’ve had enough and breaks free from control. It reminded me of youth, frustration, and the need to escape expectations. The line between light and darkness, and the feeling of being both lost and alive, deeply influenced my visual approach.
STORYLINE
Set in the rooftops of Belleville, the story follows Francois, a young rat who dreams of escaping his confined world. Tired of his overprotective parents, he rebels and ventures into the human house below, where he’s captivated by the glow of a TV showing the Belleville Space Station. When he’s captured by a human and locked in a cage, his bandmates come to the rescue. Together, they chase the countdown on the TV, sneak onto a rocket, and launch into space, finally performing their dream concert among the stars.
THEMES
TREATMENT
The animation embraces a cool, grungy, old-school aesthetic that blends punk and rock influences with expressive, textured visuals. Rough linework, solid black outlines, and cross-hatching give it a raw, hand-drawn edge.
Rebellious, raw, and emotionally charged, the tone captures the tension between isolation and freedom. It carries an underground, gritty feel that mirrors the character's internal struggle and desire to break free.
Inspired by Tales from the Tour Bus and the energy of punk culture, the project draws from music, rebellion, and visual storytelling.
RATFRANCOIS
THE BAND
KYLE
PIERRE
RICHARD
STEFAN
EXTRAS
ENVIRONMENTS
"Surrealism is destructive, but it destroys only what it considers to be shackles limiting our vision." - Salvador Dalí
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