People of the West

Squid joined forces with Boardwalk Pictures and Pechanga Studios to build People of the West—a monumental 10-part docuseries exposing California's true history through indigenous voices.

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Squid was awarded the job over larger motion design studios because the client valued taste: an elevated, contemporary approach that avoids “Native” tropes and be respected within the community—a sensibility harder to find in a corporate model.

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CLIENT

Boardwalk Pictures

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Credits

Motion Design & Animation by

Squid

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Motion Design Team:

Michael Rizzi

Awol Jay

Matthias Gerding

John Felipe Miranda

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Illustration Lead:

Santi Lozano

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Illustration Team:

Miguel Ramirez

Kaylin Munoa

Rama Olavarría

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Character Animation:

Rees Geraghty

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3D Artist:

Akshay Anand

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Concept Art:

Tempini Moreno

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Stop Motion Artist:

Lawrence Becker

People of the West

Squid joined forces with Boardwalk Pictures and Pechanga Studios to build People of the West—a monumental 10-part docuseries exposing California's true history through indigenous voices.

‍

No items found.

Credits

Motion Design & Animation by

Squid

‍

Motion Design Team:

Michael Rizzi

Awol Jay

Matthias Gerding

John Felipe Miranda

‍

Illustration Lead:

Santi Lozano

‍

Illustration Team:

Miguel Ramirez

Kaylin Munoa

Rama Olavarría

‍

Character Animation:

Rees Geraghty

‍

3D Artist:

Akshay Anand

‍

Concept Art:

Tempini Moreno

‍

Stop Motion Artist:

Lawrence Becker

People of the West

Squid joined forces with Boardwalk Pictures and Pechanga Studios to build People of the West—a monumental 10-part docuseries exposing California's true history through indigenous voices.

‍

CLIENT

Boardwalk Pictures

No items found.

PREMIUM SERIES DESIGN

Anchored by 250+ motion elements, 2D & 3D animation sequences, 60+ maps, interview backgrounds, custom typography packages, and the main title sequence.

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The Creation Stories

When histories cannot be photographed and imagination becomes the most truthful way to tell the story—animation opens the frame beyond realism, immersing audiences in Indigenous ways of seeing the world and elevating the series into a bold, visually distinctive experience that sets People of the West apart in a a class of its own.

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Six creation stories are featured in the series—Tolowa, Washoe, Miwok, Kumeyaay, Payómkawichum, and Cahuilla Nations.

Archival Treatment

ARCHIVAL RECREATIONS

So we didn’t just “use archival.” We rebuilt it. When originals were unavailable or too low quality, documents were carefully recreated to resemble real scans, giving us resolution, legibility, and full control of the look.

“
Dude I just watched 101 WOWOWOW YOU HAVE OUTDONE YOURSELF!!! I’m so proud. Thank you so much buddy, you really killed this. It’s amazing work. Xoxo. No notes.

Joseph Eardly Showrunner • People of the West

People of the West is built to feel like cultural authority. That means we couldn't lean on whatever archival happens to exist in low resolution, broken color, or inconsistent style. When the story asks for evidence, it has to land with clarity and confidence.

ARCHIVAL RECREATIONS

“
Dude I just watched 101 WOWOWOW YOU HAVE OUTDONE YOURSELF!!! I’m so proud. Thank you so much buddy, you really killed this. It’s amazing work. Xoxo. No notes.

Joseph Eardly Showrunner • People of the West

CREDITS

Motion Design & Animation by

Squid

‍

Motion Design Team:

Michael Rizzi

Awol Jay

Matthias Gerding

John Felipe Miranda

‍

Illustration Lead:

Santi Lozano

‍

Illustration Team:

Miguel Ramirez

Kaylin Munoa

Rama Olavarría

‍

Character Animation:

Rees Geraghty

‍

3D Artist:

Akshay Anand

‍

Concept Art:

Tempini Moreno

‍

Stop Motion Artist:

Lawrence Becker