Simulacro

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'Simulacro' is a sci-fi thriller podcast created by Julio Rojas (author of 'Case 63') and produced by El Extraordinario. I was commissioned to create its cover artwork and visualizer.

What was Marcos Oliveira looking for when he disappeared in the Canary Islands? Why did he travel to specific spots in the eight islands, and then return to three of them as if he was following a white rabbit? With these enigmas begins the journey of Santiago Álvarez, a writer obsessed with solving Oliveira's mystery and decided to discover what was true in his simulation theory.

Created for Canary Islands as a way to spread the word about its unique places, myths and legends, 'Simulacro' explores the limits of reality and speculates on our destiny in the midst of the rise of AIs. The story takes place throughout the Canary Islands archipelago, discovering its unique geography marked by rocks, wide plains and overwhelming atmospheres.

The artwork should capture the volcanic nature of the Canarian landscape, representing a gateway to another reality that was somehow integrated into a natural environment. We were asked to avoid using an actual place from the islands so I built a volcanic scenario from scratch, depicting an opening to another dimension that stands out in a dark setting that brings a feeling of the encounter happening in the core of the islands and of reality itself. We also created a motion version to better reflect the atmosphere and vibe of the story, that served as a visualizer for streaming platforms and social media.

The artwork was conceived to work as a thumbnail

The artwork was specially designed to perform on a small scale, becoming a thumbnail that was eye-catching and recognizable. On the other side, its composition had to be versatile to adapt to different media, and detailed enough for large scale printing. We created different versions of the cover for each episode, gradually increasing the opening as the story unfolds.

The artwork would adapt to different aspect ratios

The 10 episodes of 'Simulacro' were released in April 2024. The premiere took place at the iconic Luchana theaters in Madrid, with the participation of Julio Rojas, part of the cast and the team that worked on the production. Several Spanish media also attended to cover the news.

Julio Rojas (author) with stars Mónica López and Alberto San Juan

The venue was dressed up with physicals that served as a backdrop for different stages of the event: interviews, talks, photo shoots... This presence enhanced the diffusion of the cover artwork during the promotion.