Raphaël Leitao
“If peace were to appear in the world, I imagine that I would celebrate it, plainly and simply. I believe if peace were real, it would be celebrated openly, collectively, and without fear. Everyone would come together in joy, and that shared celebration would foster closeness, respect, and unity.”
The piece is titled The First Dawn. It depicts, in a looping and hypnotic motion, a man walking away from a city at sunrise, calm and happy after a day and night of collective celebration. The scene takes place in Paris, where I live, and we can see the traces of the celebration: for some, the party is over, while for others, it is still going on. It is a world where peace has finally arrived, imagined as a global celebration that brings people together in joy until the next dawn.
The idea is intentionally simple, yet it feels essential: for a society to celebrate together, to reconnect with one another, and to refocus on moments of shared joy, ultimately conveying a feeling of serenity and relief that everyone can hope for.
Raphaël Leitao, a Paris-based graphic designer, motion designer, and illustrator, is dedicated to conveying emotions and narratives through graphic experiences rooted in illustration and movement. While working with digital tools and techniques, his approach aims to preserve a sense of authenticity by drawing on traditional animation methods. Through his colorful and optimistic universe, Raphaël seeks to highlight the human, tangible, and sensitive dimension of an increasingly digitalized world.
“The First Dawn”, graphical animation
Music credits: Rémi Lebocey, I remilebocey