Motion design and animation

don’t turn back

Bella Papadopoulos

norwalk, CT

Advisor: Heejoo Kim

Artist Bio

Bella Papadopoulos is a digital artist and animator from Connecticut. She is a senior at the University of Connecticut, majoring in Digital Media and Design with a concentration in Motion Design and Animation.

Bella has been drawing for as long as she can remember, working with pencil and paper for years before trying digital art. Throughout the years she has developed her artistic skills, and pairing that with her interest in the visuals behind video games, Bella works towards her goal of entering the game industry as a concept artist. Currently, Bella creates many drawings and animations of characters from both media she enjoys and her own original characters, giving life to the characters.

Artist Statement

The short animation, Don’t Turn Back, follows the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, two lovers separated by death, but given the chance to reunite once again. After Orpheus gains his chance to bring Eurydice back, he fights his doubts and nerves, wondering if Eurydice is following behind. In the end, he lets these emotions take over, turning around and losing Eurydice forever. We explore not only the underworld, but the troubles that Orpheus faces, those obstacles being in front of him or in his head.

Greek Mythology has become a great interest of mine. It has so many different stories and myths, all having an underlying message or lesson for the reader. It doesn’t always give you the happily ever after that a lot of media provides today, but instead, hits you with the dark reality. For Orpheus, he gets so close to his goal, only to lose it all at the end. I’ve experienced this firsthand many times, dedicating time and effort into something just for it to fall apart right at the end, to spend all this time and effort only to fail. While people bounce back after, in the moment, even if for a second, you feel that disappointment, that sadness. This is a story that people can relate to, even with its tragic ending, and I believe there needs to be more stories like this to be shared.