BIEN (@thisisbien) is an inclusive motion design studio based in Los Angeles with a global roster of staff artists.

The inspiration for this animation came from our desire to give Paralympic sports the same polished treatment that mainstream sports enjoy. To achieve this, we went for a sleight-of-hand visual setup. Then we surprise viewers with a big reveal that shows wheelchair basketball players have the same energy, strength, and spirit as NBA players.

This type of project is our passion and why we exist as a studio - advocating for diversity and inclusion at the grassroots level.

With the help of our disability consultant and sound designer, David Jeffers (@quadriphonicsound), we did deep-dive research to stay authentic. We learned wheelchair basketball rules, researched the right kind of wheelchairs to depict, and showcased the various types of players with disabilities who play the sport. As a quadriplegic sound designer, David used an iPad Pro to create the soundscape, using sound effects and music to bring the visuals together and develop a sense of drama. He is very proud to be a voice for the community and to have the Paralympics endorse the end product is a dream come true.

Our studio had a blast making this short and we're very thankful for the opportunity to share our story. Make it BIEN!