Bringing Aviation History to Life Through Sound Design

We are thrilled to have had the honor of working on this animation for the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution—a project that beautifully blends history, imagination, and adventure.

The Vision for the Animation

This two-minute animation captures the journey of a young girl’s paper plane as it transforms into legendary aircraft from history. From the Wright Flyer to NASA’s Space Launch System, each transition represents a key moment in aviation, inspiring curiosity and wonder.

When Cameron Pinegar reached out, he was clear about the vision. He told me,

‍"Keep it inspiring, playful, and fun. Emphasize the idea that these models are made from paper, but hint towards the real aircraft they represent. There are three big moments where I want the music and sound design to have dramatic shifts that drive the story arc."‍

That set the foundation for how we approached the sound.

Our Approach to Sound Design

With these goals in mind, we crafted an immersive and dynamic soundscape that enhances the story’s emotional beats while paying tribute to aviation history.

Musical Composition & Sync

• We explored multiple tracks from Founder Music before selecting the perfect match—Break of Day—which captured the wonder, adventure, and playfulness of the animation.
• A second version was created using Levitator, requiring creative sound editing to work around its continuous flow. We introduced an ambient pause at 1:14 to create space for the dramatic ceiling crash before bringing the music back in at 1:51.

Dramatic Sound Transitions

Three pivotal moments were carefully designed to shift the emotional tone:

• 0:24 – The plane flies out the window, transitioning into a sense of open-air adventure.
• 1:14 – The dramatic ceiling crash, using a pause in music and an impactful burst of sound.
• 1:51 – A moment of triumph and inspiration as the girl prepares for her next flight.

Historical Aircraft References in Sound

Each transformation was designed to subtly hint at the real aircraft’s history:

• The Wright Flyer at 0:31 features a light, airy propeller sound.
• The WWI dogfight at 0:40 includes distant engine roars and wind rush.
• The Spirit of St. Louis at 0:48 carries the hum of an early transatlantic aircraft.
• The Apollo Rocket at 1:09 builds with a deep rumble and ignition.
• The Space Shuttle & NASA’s Space Launch System feature ascending, powerful thrust.

Final Thoughts

This project was an incredible opportunity to merge history with creative sound design, reinforcing the animation’s themes of curiosity, ambition, and exploration. Huge thanks to Cameron for trusting us and Penrose Audio with bringing this story to life!

You can check out the final animation Here! Let us know what you think about the sound design!