Revisit the career of Cristiano Ronaldo through the incredibly nostalgic sketchbook animation by artist Richard Swarbrick. He also created some highlight animated drawings for the World Cup 2014 and now he's at it again with 1,110 images to take us on a journey to tell the story of Ronaldo from Old Trafford to Santiago Bernabéu.
The two minute and 10 second video begins with Swarbrick holding up his sketchbook at Old Trafford where Ronaldo began his career and shot to fame with Manchester United. He then carries around his book, flipping pages which recreate some of Ronaldo's most well-known moments throughout his football/soccer career.
Amazingly, the entire animation was old-school hand-drawn frame by frame - or page by page, rather. Like a flipbook, Swarbricks sketches come to life as he travels through different cities, each marking a momentous moment in Ronaldo's game.
The sequence also includes a flight to Madrid to culminate in Santiago Bernabéu.
According to reports, although traditional animations normally have 24 frames per second, Swarbricks hand-drawn animation piece probably contains around 12 individual sketches per second. Still a mind-blowing effort for one man to undertake.
Swarbrick entitled the video Ballon Draw, a fun play on the sound of Ballon d'Or, the annual association football award given to the world footballer of the year. Ronaldo was presented with the honor for the second year in a row on Jan. 12. He beat out other favorite contenders like Lionel Messi and Manuel Neuer.
"I would like to thank all of those who voted for me, my president, my coach and Real Madrid. It has been an unforgettable year. To win this trophy at the end of it is something incredibly unique," Ronaldo said when he accepted the Ballon d'Or.
Check out the entire animation highlighting Ronaldo's career right here. You won't believe the stunning detail Swarbrick is able to put into his sketches.
Certainly a time-consuming and fitting tribute to 2014's Ballon d'Or recipient.
