Animating for Real Madrid’s Most Passionate Fans: A Case Study
When the School of Managing Madrid approached me to create a series of animated YouTube videos for their video division, School of Real Madrid, I saw an opportunity to craft engaging content for one of the most dedicated football communities. The goal was to produce high-quality videos exploring the club’s history, player signings, and tactical breakdowns—content tailored for fans deeply invested in every aspect of Real Madrid.
Project Overview
Managing Madrid is one of the largest English-speaking platforms dedicated to Real Madrid. To enhance their audience’s experience, they wanted a series of medium-length YouTube videos that visually brought their discussions to life.
Since the podcast operates independently from the club, one of the key challenges was sourcing visuals without access to official media. With clear objectives in mind, we developed a creative approach to deliver compelling animations while maintaining the authenticity of the Managing Madrid brand.
Challenges & Creative Solutions
One of the biggest obstacles was the lack of official photography and video footage. YouTube’s strict copyright policies meant we had to find alternative ways to visualize tactical breakdowns and historical moments without relying on traditional media.
To solve this, we leaned into illustration and motion graphics:
Custom Illustrations – Using Procreate, we created a library of black-and-white drawings of players and key moments, giving the videos a distinct visual identity.
Creative Adaptation of Photography – Where possible, we transformed images by applying textures, overlays, and stylized effects, ensuring they were both legally compliant and visually cohesive.
Another challenge was ensuring the videos felt true to the Managing Madrid brand. While the client provided scripts and voiceovers, my role was to translate their content into visuals that resonated with their audience.
Understanding the Audience
These videos weren’t meant for casual viewers but for Real Madrid’s most passionate supporters—fans who analyze tactics, debate transfer strategies, and appreciate deep dives into club history. This informed every creative decision, from the choice of references to the animation style, ensuring the content felt tailored to this engaged community.
2. Storyboarding & Concept Development
This is where the magic happens—turning words into visuals. Some ideas translated easily, while others required more creativity. For abstract concepts, we leaned into pop culture references and club-specific inside jokes. While some references might fly over the heads of casual viewers, our target audience—Real Madrid superfans—would instantly connect with them.
Production Process
The project was structured into three key phases:
Illustration & Visual Development
With no access to official photography, we turned to custom illustrations as our creative lifeline. Using Procreate, we built a library of black-and-white Real Madrid player drawings. This approach not only solved the asset issue but also gave the videos a distinct, cohesive aesthetic. The monochrome style was a strategic choice—it made the illustrations highly adaptable for animation in After Effects, ensuring seamless integration into the videos.
As the series progressed, we began incorporating minimal photography, but with a twist. To navigate copyright restrictions, we customized every image: converting them to black and white, overlaying textures, or embedding them within graphic vessels. These creative adaptations not only cleared legal hurdles but also opened the door to more dynamic and visually engaging content.
Animation
Once the storyboards were finalized, it was time to bring everything to life in After Effects. While this stage is just as time-consuming as storyboarding, it’s also the most rewarding. With headphones on and coffee in hand, I immersed myself in the rhythm of animating, frame by frame.
The Solution
The result? A series of animated videos that not only met the client’s objectives but also resonated deeply with their audience. Each video was crafted to feel like a love letter to Real Madrid’s most faithful fans, blending insightful content with visually engaging storytelling.
Results
The result? A series of animated videos that not only met the client’s objectives but also resonated deeply with their audience. Each video was crafted to feel like a love letter to Real Madrid’s most faithful fans, blending insightful content with visually engaging storytelling.
Reflection
Working on a series like this taught me the importance of building reusable assets. For example, we created custom intros and outros that could be used across multiple videos. Not only did this save time, but it also strengthened brand recognition. When fans see that intro elsewhere, they’ll instantly connect it to Managing Madrid.
