Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj is a weekly Netflix original series that explores the modern cultural and political landscape with depth, humor, and ground-breaking technological innovation. With the help of a massive high resolution LED stage and backdrop, the show employs revolutionary motion design and animation to help communicate complex ideas and densely packed narratives.
I was asked to serve as Episode Lead during the show’s Emmy-winning first season. I was in charge of overseeing all design & animation, as well as coordinating with the writing and news departments on how best to tell our story visually. This involved conceptualizing ideas, developing storyboards, pitching visual narratives to Hasan & the team, art direction for all stage graphics, and overseeing an incredible crew of designers, animators, and illustrators in the creation of a sprawling range of visual content that runs the gamut of motion design & animation. I was also responsible for giving feedback from the control room during tapings to ensure that everything looked as intended on stage.
Below you’ll find individual case studies for the episodes I worked on, each containing a brief graphics reel, stage designs, and selected animations. Full episodes can be viewed on Netflix.
“As overdoses involving fentanyl continue to skyrocket, Hasan traces the origins of the synthetic opioid and how drug companies profit from it’s misuse.”
“Cruise lines promise fun, inexpensive vacations, but Hasan discovers that major carriers are exploiting loose regulations on labor, safety and crime.”
“Five years after three high-profile killings by police, Hasan looks at the culture and systems in place that help officers avoid accountability.”
Creative Director: Jorge Peschiera
Graphics Producer: Justine Webster
Episode Lead: Chris Carboni
Head of Animation: Yussef Cole
Lead Animator: Brandon Sugiyama
Animators: Apollo Baldoz, Richard Lampasone, Tynesha Foreman, Ananya Ghatrazu, Jeejung Kim, Ryan Mauskopf, Dorca Musseb
Junior Animator: John Hughes
Pre-Vis & Screens Supervisor: Jaimie Van Dyke
Pre-Vis Operator: Mikaela Baird
Graphics Coordinator: Riann Weyers