NBA Asia

I directed and produced a 15-second animated spot for NBA Asia, designed to introduce the excitement of NBA basketball to Japanese and wider Asian audiences. The piece combined traditional Japanese-inspired aesthetics with fast-paced modern design to create a short, energetic introduction to the sport.

Credits: Commissioned by NBA / Animation by Studio Steps

Creative Direction, Illustration, Animation, Production

NBA Asia animation frame showing a basketball player dribbling through bold orange motion graphics, introducing the speed and energy of NBA basketball.

NBA Asia animation frame showing a basketball player dunking through Japanese-inspired clouds, petals and graphic motion lines, blending NBA action with Asian visual storytelling.

CONTEXT

The piece was created to introduce the excitement of NBA basketball to Japanese and wider Asian audiences, bringing the sport into a more culturally connected visual world.

APPROACH

I shaped the animation around speed, impact and atmosphere, mixing bold movement, graphic composition and traditional details to make the game feel exciting and immediate.

CONTEXT

The piece was created to introduce the excitement of NBA basketball to Japanese and wider Asian audiences, bringing the sport into a more culturally connected visual world.

APPROACH

I shaped the animation around speed, impact and atmosphere, mixing bold movement, graphic composition and traditional details to make the game feel exciting and immediate.

CONTEXT

The piece was created to introduce the excitement of NBA basketball to Japanese and wider Asian audiences, bringing the sport into a more culturally connected visual world.

APPROACH

I shaped the animation around speed, impact and atmosphere, mixing bold movement, graphic composition and traditional details to make the game feel exciting and immediate.

NBA Asia animation frame showing a basketball player running across a court with mountains, cherry blossoms and falling petals, bringing the sport into a Japanese-inspired landscape.

NBA Asia animation frame showing a player dunking through a shattered backboard, with bold orange graphic shapes and falling fragments around the NBA hoop.

NBA Asia animation close-up showing a basketball in a player’s hand with graphic speed lines, focusing on control, rhythm and motion.

NBA Asia animation frame showing a basketball player reflected inside a large illustrated eye, connecting the game’s intensity with a cinematic Japanese-inspired visual style.