The Making of The Arbiters' Proof of Concept (For More Exclusives Visit Patreon.com/PhilSvitek)

👉 Visit patreon.com/philsvitek to be part of the journey.We’re excited to finally share this. This 20-minute behind-the-scenes video offers a rare look at how The Arbiters—our original, hand-drawn, anime-inspired sci-fi/fantasy feature film—came to life through its proof of concept.The Arbiters follows Edea, a young woman searching for her lost friend Rosa, only to uncover a much larger threat—ancient elemental forces, a broken world, and a choice that could determine humanity’s future. Think Princess Mononoke meets Suzume, grounded in emotion, scale, and consequence.This video pulls back the curtain on the process. You’ll see how the project evolved from early ideas into a working proof of concept, why we chose to shoot live-action reference footage, and how that footage became a “glorified animatic” that shaped performances, pacing, and story long before final animation. You’ll also get glimpses of cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes moments, and our first time presenting The Arbiters to audiences at LA Comic Con.What You’ll See Inside🎬 Clips from the proof of concept showcasing the film’s tone and visual direction🛠 How the idea for The Arbiters started—and how it evolved🎥 Why we combined live-action reference with animation (and what it unlocked creatively)🌟 Highlights from LA Comic Con and early audience reactions🎤 Cast & crew reflections on building this world🌌 A look at the film’s world-building: advanced technology, societal decay, and a planet on the brinkThis video represents the philosophy behind the project—and behind my Patreon. I believe in showing the process, not just the outcome. The Arbiters is a real-time example of that belief in action.Want to Go Deeper?This behind-the-scenes documentary is just one part of a larger, ongoing open-studio journey happening on my Patreon.On Patreon, supporters get access to:-Additional Arbiters updates as the film develops-Early artwork, storyboards, and design explorations-Creative breakdowns, tools, and lessons drawn from the same process-Community polls, Q&As, and sneak peeks before public releasesWhether you support monthly or via a one-time contribution, everyone gets the same Arbiters access. The only difference is how you choose to participate.If this video sparked your curiosity—and you want to see how a film like this actually gets made from the inside—I’d love to have you join us.👉 Visit patreon.com/philsvitek to be part of the journey.Thanks for watching, and for supporting independent, long-form animation. We’re building something bold, beautiful, and human—one step at a time.