Graphic Recording, Illustration and Animation

Welcome to studio animanova, where drawing is carried out with a deep passion for graphic recording, illustration, and animated filmmaking. I’m Christoph J Kellner, the founder of this studio, which has been in operation for 25 years in Berlin with a primary focus on illustration and animation. In 2002, I introduced the concept of graphic recording, which was previously unfamiliar in Germany, as part of my creative services. From the outset, studio animanova has been dedicated to the art of storytelling through visuals, whether they are own creations or those of clients.

Depict with illustration studio animanova

Since 1998, animanova studio has been creating mostly figurative illustrations. My drawings can be found in books for both children and adults, as well as in films and magazines. In addition to book illustration, I also create informative illustrations, including scenario graphics, infographics, and scientific illustrations. In the education sector, I translate teaching and learning moments into picture stories as comics. I design and draw important strategy and target images for corporate communication.

Charming drawings with experience.

My aim is to support and enrich a text by depicting what it cannot do on its own. Illustration is the medium for telling stories quickly with pictures. They visualise, explain, interpret or complement. They make abstract contexts visible and understandable and convey messages.

They are always entertaining and capture attention. Images are timeless, diverse, multilingual, and universally understood. At the same time, they are unique and individual, as every successful illustrator has their own style. My portfolio is the best way to see examples of this.

Move by animation

Animation is movement. Movement is vitality. In the narrower sense, animation is any technique in which a moving image is created by a sequence of individual images. It makes it possible to bring static images or objects to life by giving them movement and dynamism. Animated GIFs can be used to attract attention. Stories are created through the interplay of animated images and sound. Sounds create moods and music arouses emotions.

Animation and explanatory film

I have been designing, drawing and directing short animated films, and producing explanatory films since 1998. Film can explain complex topics and stories in a convincing, pointed and understandable way. And animated film in particular can do just that. Because in animation there are no narrative boundaries. Instead, imagination opens doors to other worlds that move, touch and arouse curiosity. “To Infinity … and beyond” (Toy Story, 1995).

Under Animation you will find a brief overview of the wonderful world of animated film. If you would like to find out more about the most important steps in the creation of an explanatory film, you will find information under explainer video.

Documenting with Graphic Recording

Since 2002, I have worked as a graphic recorder, illustrating complex topics worldwide in both German and English.

But what exactly is graphic recording?

But what exactly is graphic recording?

Graphic recording or visual documentation is an innovative method of capturing information in real time in a visual way. By listening, I summarise the essentials of what is said on site and draw a picture of it live. The combination of drawing and text ensures a very clear presentation. The result is not only a visual document of the topics, ideas and messages discussed, but also a unique snapshot of the event. Graphic recording is being used more and more frequently at conferences, meetings and workshops to visually document discussions. This can be analogue or digital, with small sketchnotes or a large knowledge wall. Thanks to my many years of experience, I can also recommend the best format for your event.

Please find a broad spectrum of offerings including book and informative illustration, strategic visuals, scenariography, and comics within the Illustration section.

Learn more about animated film, about important steps of an explainer film production and my offerings in the section animation.

For more information on graphic recording, sketchnotes, knowledge walls, and graphic facilitation, please visit the Graphic Recording section on my website.

I am available for new projects. Feel free to reach out to me. Together, we can bring ideas to life through visual storytelling.