For Dolly Parton’s Pet Gala, I had the opportunity to create the stage visuals for two standout performances: “9 to 5” and “Puppy Love.” The project was led by creative studio Luke Halls, and I was brought on to design and animate the performance visuals.
Each song required a unique visual identity:
“Puppy Love” called for a vintage, sparkling aesthetic, filled with vibrant movement and playful light—channeling the sweet, over-the-top flair of classic love songs and the adorable world of pets.
“9 to 5” had a bolder brief: to create an entire wall made of animated neon lights, evoking the hustle and glam of the working world through dynamic color and rhythm.
One of the main challenges was building the neon wall for 9 to 5. I built multiple lighting loop systems with custom flashing sequences, allowing the production team to control the mood live on stage. The neon patterns followed the performer’s position and timing, turning the entire space into a glowing animated backdrop.
(neon wall development process)
I used Cinema 4D and Redshift to develop the 3D environments, especially for the neon structures. For compositing and animation finesse, I brought everything together in After Effects.
Seeing the neon visuals live on set was one of the most rewarding parts of this project. The final result completely transformed the scenario, giving the performance a unique, electric vibe that felt both nostalgic and contemporary. The sparkling magic of “Puppy Love” and the glowing energy of “9 to 5” perfectly matched the spirit of Dolly Parton.
About Dolly Parton’s Pet Gala:
Presented by Doggy Parton and CBS, Dolly Parton’s Pet Gala was a two-hour primetime special blending iconic Dolly hits with a high-fashion pet runway.