Playdate is a new handheld console developed by Panic. Inside a little yellow square with a little black & white screen is a device packed with awesome potential, and we had the opportunity to create an animation which would capture all that the Playdate has to offer.

The “First Launch” short film shows the journey of a Playdate being built and bestowed with all the gear it needs – buttons, sounds, and the crowning jewel – the CRANK! The entire animation was done in 2D at a resolution of 400×240 pixels (the same resolution as the Playdate screen), with an amazing score by Simon Panrucker (composer for Sinclair Snake).

The Playdate is available for pre-order now! This console is truly a playground for independent artists & developers, and we can’t wait for you to see everything it has to offer!