They say teamwork makes the dream work—but no one ever talks enough about how messy, emotional, and wildly human that process really is.
For Daphne Torrecampo, Hendel Beatrice Keane Chan, Mark Danielle Patubo, and Karl Aldric Villarias, their thesis project, In Between the Frames, was more than just a 2D animation—it was a mirror held up to their own creative journey. What started as an academic exploration of collaboration in a creative work environment became something deeply personal, and, at times, difficult.
“Honestly, we had a lot of miscommunication,” the team shares candidly. “There were moments when we didn’t see eye to eye. But what pushed us forward was the shared goal of finishing this together.”
And finish they did.
Rendered in 2D animation—their chosen medium for its clarity, nostalgia, and creative fluidity—In Between the Frames walks viewers through the highs and lows of working in a team. From brainstorming and feedback loops to missed deadlines and emotional ruts, the project doesn’t romanticize the process. Instead, it embraces the chaos of creation, one frame at a time.
“We grew up watching cartoons that taught us about friendship, honesty, and courage,” Daphne reflects. “So, we thought—why not use the same language of animation to talk about something that artists need to hear more about: collaboration.”
The film doesn’t just depict teamwork; it embodies it. Every scene is a product of compromise. Every line, color choice, and movement carries the fingerprints of each member’s input. But underneath the visuals lies a core message that’s both timely and timeless: Teamwork doesn’t mean the absence of conflict—it means showing up, working through it, and committing to the goal together.
If anything, In Between the Frames is less a lecture and more of a love letter—to collaboration in all its messy, beautiful reality. It’s a toolkit for future creatives, showing not just how to work with others, but how to grow with them.
Because the truth is, collaboration isn’t just what happens on the screen. It’s what happens in the in-between.