EA SPORTS NHL HYPESTAGE
Hype stage animations featured in the main menu and NHL LIVE backgrounds of NHL 26.
Hype stages play an important role in setting the tone — they capture the theme of each season and live event while keeping players engaged and letting them feel the vibe of what's happening in-game. For each one, I started from a given theme and took it through the full process myself: brainstorming the concept, designing the visuals, and bringing it to life through motion.
Hype stages play an important role in setting the tone — they capture the theme of each season and live event while keeping players engaged and letting them feel the vibe of what's happening in-game. For each one, I started from a given theme and took it through the full process myself: brainstorming the concept, designing the visuals, and bringing it to life through motion.
international event themed
NHL 26 main menu
TOOLS Cinema 4D/After Effects
ROLE Visual Design/3D Asset creation/Animation
ROLE Visual Design/3D Asset creation/Animation
A piece created for an international hockey competition in NHL 26.
My goal was to capture the prestige of international sport — the kind of stage where medals and championships are on the line — while staying true to the raw, authentic feel of hockey. I worked national flags into the design for a global sense of competition, and combined polished gold textures with a rougher, grittier finish to balance premium quality with real hockey energy.
My goal was to capture the prestige of international sport — the kind of stage where medals and championships are on the line — while staying true to the raw, authentic feel of hockey. I worked national flags into the design for a global sense of competition, and combined polished gold textures with a rougher, grittier finish to balance premium quality with real hockey energy.
Still images from Original Video
Style Frame for Static visual
hypestage collection
NHL 26 live SEASON PASS
A collection of hype stages made for the seasonal content of World of Chel in NHL 26's live service.
Each piece is built around its own theme, crafted to immerse players and bring the spirit of every season to life.
Each piece is built around its own theme, crafted to immerse players and bring the spirit of every season to life.
Season 3
International Event
International Event
A hype stage for the World of Chel international live event in NHL 26.
Built as a companion to the international menu piece, this version carries the same spirit — prestige, authentic hockey grit, and a global feel. Since the live hype stage runs full-screen, I had more room to work with, so I added extra cuts and scenes to make the most of the larger format — while reworking the colors, flags, and puck design to fit. The result keeps that sense of international competition throughout.
Built as a companion to the international menu piece, this version carries the same spirit — prestige, authentic hockey grit, and a global feel. Since the live hype stage runs full-screen, I had more room to work with, so I added extra cuts and scenes to make the most of the larger format — while reworking the colors, flags, and puck design to fit. The result keeps that sense of international competition throughout.
Season 2
Winter & Ice
Winter & Ice
Working from the established winter/ice theme,
I developed the animation concept, designed the visuals and logo, and brought it all to life through motion.
Ice is at the heart of hockey, so I built my approach around it — shaping a dynamic, immersive background that draws players into the moment.
I developed the animation concept, designed the visuals and logo, and brought it all to life through motion.
Ice is at the heart of hockey, so I built my approach around it — shaping a dynamic, immersive background that draws players into the moment.
Season 5
Urban
Urban
An urban-themed hype stage for NHL 26, blending a back-alley, graffiti aesthetic with hockey.
I handled the animation concept and visual design. This one's all about energy and attitude — flickering lights, a gritty brick backdrop, and bold, stylized effects that give it a hip, street-inspired edge. The goal was to fuse the raw feel of a back alley with hockey for something that just looks effortlessly cool.
I handled the animation concept and visual design. This one's all about energy and attitude — flickering lights, a gritty brick backdrop, and bold, stylized effects that give it a hip, street-inspired edge. The goal was to fuse the raw feel of a back alley with hockey for something that just looks effortlessly cool.
Season 1
underwater
underwater
An aqua-themed hype stage for NHL 26, designed to feel like being deep underwater.
I developed the animation concept for the piece. Rather than going for flashy motion, I focused on building atmosphere — a stone-carved logo resting beneath the surface, caustics rippling across it, and bubbles drifting upward to make it feel like you're truly submerged.
The goal was mood and immersion over spectacle.
I developed the animation concept for the piece. Rather than going for flashy motion, I focused on building atmosphere — a stone-carved logo resting beneath the surface, caustics rippling across it, and bubbles drifting upward to make it feel like you're truly submerged.
The goal was mood and immersion over spectacle.
hypestage collection
NHL 26 live event
Hype stages for the live events in World of Chel, NHL 26.
With a faster content cycle than the season pass, these are streamlined, 2D-focused pieces built for quick turnaround.
Working from provided concepts and logo assets, I handled the visual design and motion.
With a faster content cycle than the season pass, these are streamlined, 2D-focused pieces built for quick turnaround.
Working from provided concepts and logo assets, I handled the visual design and motion.
live event
VALENTINE'S DAY
VALENTINE'S DAY
A Valentine's Day hypestage for NHL 26.
Rather than the sweet, conventional take you'd expect from the theme, I leaned into a retro, anime-inspired style with a bolder edge — flame effects and high-energy visuals that give it a cooler, more dynamic feel.
Rather than the sweet, conventional take you'd expect from the theme, I leaned into a retro, anime-inspired style with a bolder edge — flame effects and high-energy visuals that give it a cooler, more dynamic feel.
live event
94 rewind
94 rewind
A hype stage built around the retro vibe of NHL 94.
I leaned into a nostalgic, old-school computer game look — pixelated textures, CRT-style screen effects, and a throwback feel that nods to classic 90s gaming.
I leaned into a nostalgic, old-school computer game look — pixelated textures, CRT-style screen effects, and a throwback feel that nods to classic 90s gaming.
live event
halloween
halloween
A Halloween hype stage for NHL 26, created around the special pumpkin character logo.
My goal was a spooky, atmospheric feel — leaning into eerie mood and energy to match the spirit of the season.
My goal was a spooky, atmospheric feel — leaning into eerie mood and energy to match the spirit of the season.
live event
urban
urban
An urban live event hype stage for NHL 26, set in a dark, worn-down subway atmosphere.
The idea was to build a real sense of place — making it feel like the character is standing in an actual subway station, with subtle dust and air movement bringing the space to life.
The idea was to build a real sense of place — making it feel like the character is standing in an actual subway station, with subtle dust and air movement bringing the space to life.
