SOLARIS – evolution of the bus
The process of creating an animation depicting the history of Solaris buses was a multi-stage project combining classic 2D animation with 3D modeling. The main goal of the project was to showcase the technological evolution of the vehicles—from the first diesel models in 1996 to the latest electric and hydrogen buses of recent years. We designed the entire project as a dynamic journey through the successive decades of public transportation development.
The storyboard
The first stage of the project involved developing a visual concept and a storyboard for the animation. Using archival materials, photographs, and technical documentation, we recreated the distinctive bus models from various periods in Solaris’s history.
Storyboard for the Solaris animation
We paid particular attention to preserving the vehicles’ stylistic details, such as the body shape, lighting layout, and distinctive public transit liveries. As a result, each bus has become a symbol of its era and the brand’s technological advancement.
We created the urban environment elements using 2D animation in Adobe After Effects. During this phase, we produced animated buildings, trees, streets, road signs, and other background elements corresponding to specific periods on the timeline. We designed the graphics in a simplified, slightly illustrative style, which allowed us to maintain the clarity of the scenes while highlighting the most important element of the animation—the buses. We divided the individual layers of the environment into planes, which enabled us to create a sense of depth and smooth camera transitions between the decades.
backgrounds used in the animation
The bus models, on the other hand, were created using 3D software. We recreated each vehicle based on actual proportions and reference materials provided by Solaris. Using Cinema 4D, we were able to realistically simulate the suspension’s operation and the movement of the wheels while driving. We then combined the rendered buses with previously prepared 2D backgrounds through compositing in After Effects. The integration of both techniques resulted in a modern yet visually light animation, in which the vehicles blend naturally into the stylized surroundings.
Solaris buses in the modeling process
Smoothness of animation
Another key aspect of the production was ensuring smooth transitions between different historical periods. The animation featured transformations of the surroundings and seamless shifts in the city’s color palette and style, which symbolically illustrated the evolution of public transportation technology and the overall changes in the environment over the years. Older bus models appeared in a more industrial, austere setting, while modern vehicles such as the electric Solaris Urbino 18 Electric or the hydrogen-powered Solaris 18 Hydrogen were depicted in a bright, modern environment full of greenery and contemporary architecture.
One of the scenes involved showing the interior of the bus, which also required recreating elements inside the vehicle. Both the camera’s entry and exit points had to be seamlessly integrated with the rest of the animation.
Adding background music
The sound design process was carried out in parallel with the visual work. The soundscape was designed to highlight the technological changes that have taken place over the past thirty years. For older buses, realistic recordings of combustion engines, pneumatic sounds, and the characteristic hum of classic powertrains were used. With the emergence of electric and hydrogen models, the soundtrack gradually became more subtle and futuristic, highlighting the nearly silent operation of modern vehicles.
The whole was complemented by dynamic background music that built the narrative and pace of the animation. The final sound mix combined special effects, urban ambient sounds, and music into a cohesive whole, allowing the animation to not only showcase the evolution of Solaris buses but also tell an emotional story about the transformation of modern public transportation.