Motion by Natasha
Cheap Thrills for Super Deluxe
Natasha created the graphic style, illustrations, and animated elements used for YouTube series "Cheap Thrills."
About the Project
"Cheap Thrills" is a satirical YouTube series hosted by Nate Contreras, who plays the character Tabasko Sweet. Each episode focused on an exaggerated, often impractical DIY project that encouraged viewers to be creative and resourceful while critiquing consumerism and the ridiculous nature of fashion trends. The series made a significant impact on internet culture with several viral videos and a dedicated fanbase.
Challenge
As a graphic artist at Super Deluxe from 2016-2018, I created the graphic style, illustrations, and animated elements used in popular YouTube series "Cheap Thrills." I wanted the graphics to build on the humor and absurdity shown throughout the series while incorporating hand-drawn elements to mimic its DIY aesthetic.
Execution
With playful illustrations like Kanye and Lil Pump morphing into couches, Trippie Redd in Mario Kart, and rotoscoped elements like lizard eyes on Tabsko, I created a visual language that contributed to the widespread success of the series. The projects were created using Photoshop, AfterEffects, and Premiere.
Process
During the design process, my goal was to capture the show's DIY spirit while creating visual gags to add to the overall tone of the series. Drawing inspiration from streetwear, pop culture, and counterfeit goods, I combined hand-drawn elements, bold graphics, and experimental rotoscoping techniques to create visual interest for 59 episodes over the course of two years.
Success
"Cheap Thrills" made a significant impact on 2010's internet culture. The series was nominated for a Streamy award in 2018 and was featured in publications like Dazed, Hypebeast, and Footwear News. The show generated countless memes, viral moments, and a very dedicated fanbase including a few people with Tabasko Sweet tattoos.
"90 percent genius, 10 percent ridiculous."
-Dazed Digital
