ABOUT

Purpose & Research Context
“The vast majority of the global increase in the size of middle classes occurs in Asia. Migration Rhythms is a research project from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) that explores trajectories of upward social mobility in Asia. To find out more, visit .”

The Karachi video spans multiple generations, tracing a family’s evolution from the time of Partition to the present day. It examines how people’s lives are influenced by their family stories, including the inheritance of homes and other physical spaces.

This narrative, commissioned by PositiveNegatives for PRIO, explores the idea that our current way of life can be traced back through generations. It highlights how change over time creates upward social mobility. The story focuses on a single family in Karachi, emphasizing how we all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.

Narrative Overview
Using symbolic imagery to depict historical transformation, the Karachi segment illuminates how traditions, memories, and inherited spaces contribute to shaping modern lives. The narrative is deeply anchored in research insights, presenting a reflective dialogue between past and present and underscoring the gradual evolution of social mobility within a family context.

Jarbrain’s Animation Process
Faced with the challenge of depicting a time-lapse effect, Jarbrain initially requested multiple illustrations of a table from various angles. With limited imagery available, we adapted our approach by applying a film-grade treatment: the video begins in 2025 with crisp, modern visuals, transitions into a black-and-white treatment for the 1970s, and adopts sepia tones for the 1960s. To further emphasize the passage of time, we animated clock hands to simulate time reversal.

Additional environmental details—such as a ceiling fan in motion and sequences where bricks disappear layer by layer, mimicking the gradual construction of a home—added further depth. Although we explored effects like glitches and blur in After Effects, the final treatment was refined to match team preferences.

Our animation process, completed by Richard Hughes’ sound design and research-led art direction, brings historical context and emotional nuance to life.

Credits
Director: Dr. Benjamin Worku-Dix,
Producer / Script Writer: Karrie Fransman,
Research Director: Dr. Marta Bivand Erdal,
Researchers: Dr. Furrukh Khan, Sehr Nisar & Neha Ramchand,
Illustrator: Wasfa Kamal,
Voiceover: Javed Khan & Laiba Rahman,
Animation: Jarbrain,
Sound Designer: Richard Hughes (Anyway Audio Ltd),
Production: PositiveNegatives,
Translators: Dr. Furrukh Khan & Sehr Nisar.