Project: New Horizons
A cinematic 3D animated journey through the New Horizons space mission — from Pluto’s icy peaks to the quiet drift past Arrokoth. Led by design, this project captures science, scale, and story in visual detail.
Motion Design
Background
Armaku came to us with an ambitious idea: recreate the New Horizons mission through a series of 3D animations that didn’t just show planets, but made people feel the wonder behind space exploration. The result? A three-part sample pack that takes viewers from the edge of Pluto to the far stretches of the Kuiper Belt — blending NASA data, infrared references, and storytelling precision.
Background
We worked closely with mission data, scientific imagery, and references from NASA to make the animations as accurate as they were awe-inspiring. Each scene — from the rocket launch to Pluto’s nitrogen glaciers — was designed to communicate not just visuals, but the sheer scale of human effort and curiosity. This was about crafting something beautiful, but also something grounded in truth. This project was also a sandbox for pushing our own limits — from space cinematography, texturing, lighting, and photorealism, to storytelling without words. What made it special: we weren’t just animating celestial bodies, we were capturing a decade-long story of discovery in seconds.
Kush Varma
Business Development Director, Armaku
"Working with Moonkraft Studio has been one of the most creatively fulfilling collaborations I’ve had. We’ve partnered on two major projects - Project: New Horizons and Project: ExoMars and both have turned into standout successes for our brand. What I value most is their growth-oriented mindset. With each project, the team has leveled up, listening carefully, evolving their craft, and pushing the visual bar higher. The final results have not only brought our creative visions to life but have also generated genuine excitement within our audience. Moonkraft care about the outcome. They take feedback in stride, they’re deeply collaborative, and they’re passionate about making something truly great. I’m proud of what we’ve built together so far and excited for what comes next."
Final Notes
This project challenged us to blend scientific accuracy with cinematic storytelling — and it made us better. From scripting to simulation, we pushed our tools (and ourselves) to capture the weightlessness, isolation, and quiet beauty of deep space. Working with Armaku gave us the opportunity to go beyond design — into world-building, visual storytelling, and space-grade imagination. And that’s exactly the kind of work we want more of. Like we see, "it's not rocket science, but it's close". aha!
