Satellite Railway Map Animation

We are producing a Turkish documentary about the Çerkezköy–Kapıkule railway project, an important passenger and freight connection between Türkiye and Europe.

We are looking for an experienced map animator / motion graphics designer to create a consistent set of geographical animations for the documentary.

This is a custom documentary graphics project. We need accurate, clearly readable maps with carefully controlled routes, labels and camera movements.
Visual direction
We want a polished, contemporary editorial documentary look, with the clarity of high-quality geographical explainers such as Vox.

Please bring your own design approach. We do not want a vintage parchment map, cartoon travel animation or a generic slideshow template.

Key requirements:
- Show complete routes clearly before moving into regional details.
- Use smooth, purposeful camera movements.
- Animate routes progressively in sync with the narration.
- Highlight the route being discussed while keeping other routes subdued.
- Keep typography within broadcast-safe margins.
- Position labels carefully so they do not overlap routes or each other.
- Use restrained markers or small moving points. Large train and ship icons are unnecessary.
- Distinguish existing infrastructure from planned projects.
- Maintain the same visual language across all sequences.
Map sequences
1. Halkalı–Kapıkule railway project overview

Show the project in its geographical context, connecting Istanbul to the Bulgarian border.

Identify its three sections:
- Halkalı–Ispartakule
- Ispartakule–Çerkezköy
- Çerkezköy–Kapıkule
Highlight the Çerkezköy–Kapıkule section and its locations:

Çerkezköy → Büyükkarıştıran → Lüleburgaz → Babaeski → Edirne → Kapıkule.

2. Existing railway versus the new route

Compare the existing conventional railway with the new alignment.

Show both routes using distinct colours, with the supplied distance figures. The animation should make the difference in alignment and length immediately understandable.

3. Eurasian trade corridors

Start with a wide view showing China and Europe, then introduce these routes individually:
- Southern sea route through the Suez Canal.
- Alternative sea route around the Cape of Good Hope.
- Northern rail corridor through Russia.
- Middle Corridor through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye, continuing to Europe.
- Planned Development Road: maritime transport to Iraq’s Grand Faw Port, then the proposed railway through Iraq and Türkiye to Europe.
Display supplied journey-time comparisons where required.

The Middle Corridor and Development Road need more geographical detail than the other routes. The audience should understand how they connect to Türkiye and ultimately to Kapıkule.

4. Additional international connections

Show:
- Iran → Kapıköy border crossing → Lake Van ferry crossing → Türkiye’s railway network.
- Proposed connections associated with the revival of the historic Hejaz railway network, following the reference material we provide.
Planned connections must be visually distinguishable from operating routes.

5. Türkiye’s expanding railway network

Animate selected railway projects and connections as they are mentioned in the minister’s interview.

The purpose is to show how domestic production centres, cities and ports feed into the wider network and the route towards Europe.

The exact list and timing will be supplied with the selected interview.

6. Istanbul Strait crossing

Show the existing Marmaray railway crossing and the proposed alternative via the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge.

Explain visually how the proposed Gebze–Çatalca connection links to the railway towards Kapıkule.

This sequence should move from a national view into a clear regional view of Istanbul.

7. Marmara ports and freight connections

Show:
- Bandırma–Tekirdağ rail ferry connection.
- Tekirdağ port connections to the railway network.
- Ambarlı Port → Halkalı freight terminal by road.
- Halkalı → Kapıkule railway connection.
Different transport modes must be clearly distinguishable. Do not show a direct railway connection where freight is transported by truck.
What we will provide
- Turkish narration and selected interview audio.
- Script with map insertion points.
- Reference maps and route information.
- Approved place names, figures and on-screen text.
- Reference footage or an edit for timing, when available.
You do not need to speak Turkish, but you must be comfortable working with a timecoded script and preserving Turkish characters accurately.

Reference graphics may contain schematic routes. Please flag geographical inconsistencies before production rather than copying them blindly.
Deliverables
- 3840 × 2160, 16:9, 25 fps.
- High-quality video masters suitable for professional editing, preferably ProRes.
- MP4 previews for review.
- Editable project files with linked assets.
- Details of all map-data, font, plugin and asset licences.
- Commercial usage rights suitable for a sponsored documentary, YouTube and promotional excerpts.
- No watermarks.
Please identify any paid plugins required to reopen or modify the project.
Workflow
1. Submit relevant map-animation portfolio examples.
2. Develop one style frame for approval.
3. Produce a paid 10–15-second test showing a Middle Corridor route reveal.
4. After approval, produce the remaining sequences.
5. Include two consolidated revision rounds in your proposal.
The seven items above are content groups, not necessarily seven continuous clips. Some may be delivered as several short shots to fit the edit.
Please include in your proposal
- Two or three relevant examples of your own map-animation work.
- Your software and workflow.
- Your approach to geographical accuracy.
- Price for the paid test.
- Estimated budget for the full scope, including your assumed total animation duration.
- Estimated turnaround time.
- What is included in revisions and source-file delivery.
Please begin your proposal with “MAP DOCUMENTARY” so we know you have read the brief.