Dynamic Poster: Memento
A moving poster inspired by the psychological thriller Memento, capturing the feeling of time, memory, and confusion.
Overview
In this project, I explored the concept of a dynamic poster — a poster that incorporates animation to tell a story and evoke emotion.
I chose Christopher Nolan's Memento as my inspiration.
The movie's complex narrative structure, themes of memory loss, and fragmented timeline offered a perfect foundation to experiment with non-linear storytelling through motion design.
The challenge was to visually express confusion, disorientation, and the irreversible passage of time within a short animated sequence.
Process
1. Research
I started by analyzing the film's key motifs: Polaroids, handwritten notes, tattoos, and its reversed narrative structure.
I explored how these elements could be abstracted visually — focusing on a fragmented, layered style that mirrors the protagonist's broken memory.
I also studied examples of dynamic posters and motion graphics, particularly those using minimalistic motion to maximize emotional impact.
2. Sketches & Concepts
I sketched different visual ideas, combining images and typographic elements that could "decay," "rewind," or "fade" — symbolizing memory loss.
Key ideas included:
- Polaroid frames slowly fading into black
- Reversing text animations (to match the movie's backwards storytelling)
- Broken or glitched visual effects to create a sense of instability
I will choose to focus on the fading polaroids on my moving poster.
3. Design & Animation
I designed the poster layout in Adobe Illustrator, keeping a muted color palette: black and white — to evoke nostalgia and decay.
For the animation, I used CSS animations:
- Created slow zoom-ins and fade-outs to create a dream-like feeling
Careful attention was given to the pacing: slow enough to create tension, but fragmented enough to keep the viewer unsettled — just like Leonard in the film.
4. Final Result
The final poster is a haunting, looping animation that captures the spirit of Memento.
It feels like a memory slipping away — familiar yet unreachable.
Key visuals include:
- Polaroid photographs dissolving into black and slowly comming back
This project helped me explore how time and memory can be visualized graphically, and how animation can elevate emotional storytelling even in small formats.