Personas is a recurring animated series created for ServiceNow’s Knowledge events in 2025 and 2026, and one of the highest-priority projects across our event work. Each edition features two sets of four characters, with every character representing a different industry. The pieces were delivered in multiple sizes and aspect ratios, designed to play in sync across the many screens throughout the event venue.
The video shown here is the 16:9 version, combining Set 1 from K26 with Set 2 from K25. Art Director Annie Liao established the original K25 layout, including the intro and the individual character sections. K26 largely carried that design forward, while I redesigned the intro to feel fresher and more dynamic.
The heart of the piece is in the retiming. The characters were captured as high-speed footage by a dedicated production crew, with three to four takes each. From that material, I selected and tested the strongest take for every character, then retimed and composited it into the final motion. Each character plays at natural speed until their signature move — where time suddenly stretches into slow motion, a beat of contrast that amplifies their personality and gives the moment real impact.
My Role
Footage selection and testing; retiming and compositing of character takes; motion design and full animation; 3D animation; intro redesign for K26.
Tools
After Effects · Cinema 4D
Credits
Creative Director: Jonathan Pharr
Art Director: Annie Liao
Motion Design & 3D Animation: Sonny Song
Sonny Song — Motion Design 
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