# In Waves and War

> Animated sequences for In Waves and War, a Netflix documentary about three veterans seeking relief from the psychological effects of war.

Canonical page: [In Waves and War](<https://gergely-wootsch.com/projects/in-waves-and-war>)

Project ID: aka\_iww

Year: 2024

Role: Sequence Designer & Director, Technical Supervisor & 3D Artist

I designed and directed The Labyrinth and did substantial technical 3D work with the team. I also supervised the technical work on Philip Hunt's sequence and contributed as a technical 3D artist to Steve Small's.

Work: [In Waves and War](<https://www.inwavesandwarfilm.com/>) (2024)

Production: [Studio AKA](<https://studioaka.co.uk/>)

Client: [Actual Films](<https://actualfilms.net/>)

Platform: Netflix

*In Waves and War* is a feature documentary by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk for Actual Films, released worldwide on Netflix in November 2025. It follows three former Navy SEALs, Marcus Capone, DJ Shipley and Matty Roberts, who seek psychedelic treatment for the psychological effects of war. [Studio AKA](<https://studioaka.co.uk/>) created four animated sequences representing their memories and experiences under treatment, including *The Labyrinth*.

[In Waves and War: The Labyrinth](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/film-clean/1920x1080.2d4d79ae16e6.mp4>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

## The Labyrinth

The Labyrinth visualizes DJ’s ibogaine session through rooms built from his memories. I explored claustrophobic interiors that blend personal footage with animation, intercut with his interview.

[In Waves and War: The Labyrinth, the floor gives way](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/loop-01/1920x1080.d315f7b5a276.mp4>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[The floor cracks and caves in around DJ as he lies on the recliner.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-01/1400x788.8707bb5e3798.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[DJ falls through a teal void among flying shards of pink and blue glass.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-02/1400x788.bc37a2d6aaf2.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[DJ walks across a dark stage toward a glowing panel, among hanging memory screens.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-03/1400x788.72ebb3a35d1a.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[Seen from behind, DJ faces a tall blue panel showing a faded family photograph.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-04/1400x788.36237f678319.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[DJ stands alone in a purple hall of hanging memory panels beside an old television.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-05/1400x788.16a1e1391111.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[DJ sits on a sofa with a hand to his head, facing a purple wall of light.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-06/1400x788.6c2824797915.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[DJ sits on a small sofa before a wide wall of glowing family pictures.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-07/1400x788.70f6133dbb0b.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[A room of teal glass shatters into a floor of glittering fragments.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-08/1400x788.70306307ab82.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[In a sunlit garden, DJ walks between translucent panels showing a lawnmower in the grass.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-09/1400x788.d872262bc4ed.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[Giant legs loom in amber panels as DJ walks into a golden sunset.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-10/1400x788.48817e1ecc22.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[In red light, a silhouetted man pulls a lawnmower beside a glowing panel of a boy.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-11/1400x788.7960a6d4d6f4.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[A silhouette shoves a lawnmower past a tree trunk against a burning red sky.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-12/1400x788.67c9a73ca347.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[DJ's bearded profile before a vast teal face, with a small pink figure crouched between them.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-13/1400x788.5ede99feafc8.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[DJ kneels among broken pieces on a blue floor, surrounded by floating photographs.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-14/1400x788.4037f3a80235.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[DJ floats weightless through a teal space among drifting ID cards and papers.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-15/1400x788.f6278d748961.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

Shifting color and fractured spaces express changes in DJ’s state of mind.

[In Waves and War: The Labyrinth, anger](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/loop-02/1920x1080.6823e78fae15.mp4>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[In Waves and War: The Labyrinth, the rooms shatter](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/loop-03/1920x1080.be167d21d0a9.mp4>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

The closing images combine weightless movement with drifting photographs and papers.

[In Waves and War: The Labyrinth, rising through memories](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/loop-04/1920x1080.4b92aaf9ee6c.mp4>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

## The Film

Studio AKA's four sequences each have their own director and technique. The Opening and the Abyss, directed by Philip Hunt, follows Marcus Capone through 3D volumetric scenes with 2D illustrative elements. The Tall Grass and Red Wings, directed by Marcus Armitage, recalls combat in hand-rendered charcoal, after the directors pointed the team to Robert Capa's photographs of the D-Day landings. Mirrors, directed by Steve Small, shows Matty Roberts' ego dissolution in 3D volumetric animation.

[Marcus Capone floats on his back through a teal void among falling family photographs.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-opening-abyss/1400x788.2832cc2cc591.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[Soldiers in night-vision green walk toward a helicopter landing in a haze of dust.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-tall-grass-red-wings/1400x788.954bcf5ceefc.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

[Two men stand face to face in silhouette against a blazing orange haze.](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/still-mirrors/1400x788.dd2b11736f7d.jpg>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

The film takes its title from the line of the Odyssey it opens with, "I have endured so much in waves and war", which also gave the production its working title, Odyssey. The official trailer is from Actual Films.

[In Waves and War: Official Trailer](<https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ao8tiqnuS3Y>)

## Making Of

I designed and directed *The Labyrinth*, working closely with the team and taking on a substantial part of its technical 3D work. On [Philip Hunt](<https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0402601/>)'s *The Opening and the Abyss*, I was technical supervisor, helping with modeling, rigging and the sequence's technical requirements. I also contributed as a technical 3D artist to [Steve Small](<https://www.stevesmall.co.uk/>)'s *Mirrors*.

The 3D characters started from photogrammetry scans and human models, keeping the veterans recognizable without making the images photographic. The team animated them with a mix of motion capture and hand keyframes in Maya and Houdini, combining the renders with painted backgrounds and textures. Each frame is a collage of photographs, illustration and semi-realistic figures. On The Labyrinth, I also storyboarded, animated and composited shots. I used Houdini and Maya for the 3D work, Marvelous Designer for character preparation, and After Effects for compositing. I helped rig the characters for my sequence and Philip's, with a smaller rigging contribution to Steve's.

DJ’s photogrammetry scan became a clothed, rigged and painted character, animated with hand keyframes and homemade motion capture, with cloth simulation on every shot. The memory panels were made from footage the team distorted through Fresnel lenses and set back into the scenes, and the final composites are built from a few simple layers.

[In Waves and War: The Labyrinth, behind the scenes](</media/derivatives/aka_iww/bts-01/1920x1080.626ceb8ab9a3.mp4>) (Studio AKA for Actual Films)

## The Veterans

Marcus Capone and his wife Amber founded [Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions](<https://vetsolutions.org/>) (VETS) in 2019 to help veterans reach psychedelic treatment. In January 2024 [Stanford Medicine](<https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2024/01/ibogaine-ptsd.html>) published a study of ibogaine treatment in 30 special operations veterans with traumatic brain injury. DJ Shipley tells his side of the treatment in [his own account for VETS](<https://vetsolutions.org/news/vets-dj-shipley-in-waves-and-war/>).

## Recognition

The animation won Outstanding Graphic Design: Documentary at the 47th News and Documentary Emmy Awards on 28 May 2026. The award credits me alongside Marcus Armitage, Philip Hunt and Steve Small as Creative Directors, and Nikki Kefford as VFX Producer. Nikki Kefford and Jon Shenk accepted the award in New York. Jon Shenk, Marcus Armitage and I were also nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Visual Design at the 19th Cinema Eye Honors.

In The Washington Post, Ann Hornaday placed the film seventh in her ten best films of 2025, praising "gorgeous animations to recreate visions and psychic breakthroughs". In IndieWire, Christian Blauvelt wrote that "the images are as hazy as memory, and a very effective way of getting inside the heads of these vets".

- [47th News and Documentary Emmy Awards](<https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Doc-Emmys-Winners-with-names-v-1.1.pdf>) — 2026 — Winner — Outstanding Graphic Design: Documentary — Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York — May 28
- [19th Cinema Eye Honors](<https://cinemaeyehonors.com/visual-design/>) — 2026 — Nominee — Outstanding Achievement in Visual Design — New York — January 8
- Telluride Film Festival — 2024 — Official selection — Telluride, Colorado — August 31
- SFFILM Festival — 2025 — Screening — San Francisco — April 27
- [DC/DOX](<https://dcdoxfest.com/films/in-waves-and-war/>) — 2025 — Screening — Washington, DC
- [BendFilm Festival](<https://www.inwavesandwarfilm.com/screenings/bend-film-festival>) — 2025 — Official selection — Bend, Oregon — October 8–12

## Links

More on Studio AKA's website and the film's own site.

- [Watch on Netflix](<https://www.netflix.com/title/82047468>)
- [Project on studioaka.co.uk](<https://studioaka.co.uk/inwavesandwar/>)
- [Film site on inwavesandwarfilm.com](<https://www.inwavesandwarfilm.com/>)
- [Studio AKA: A News and Documentary Emmy](<https://studioaka.co.uk/iwaw-emmy/>)
- [LBB: Studio AKA brings the unseen world of psychedelic healing to life](<https://lbbonline.com/news/Studio-AKA-IN-WAVES-AND-WAR>)
- [The Washington Post: The 10 best movies of 2025](<https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/movies/2025/12/12/best-movies-2025/>)
- [IndieWire: In Waves and War review](<https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/in-waves-and-war-review-1235042903/>)
- [Variety: In Waves and War review, Telluride](<https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/in-waves-and-war-review-telluride-1236128781/>)
- [Military Times: Vets explore psychedelics to treat effects of war](<https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/movies-video-games/2025/11/03/in-new-documentary-vets-explore-psychedelics-to-treat-effects-of-war/>)
- [Gold Derby: Interview with the directors](<https://www.goldderby.com/film/2025/in-waves-and-war-netflix-documentary-director-interview/>)
- [Radio Times: In Waves and War review](<https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-ri2oi7/in-waves-and-war/>)

## Credits

- Production: Participant, Actual Films, Chicago Media Project
- Directors: Jon Shenk, Bonni Cohen
- Producer: Jessica Anthony
- Animation Sequences Produced by: Studio AKA
- Animation Sequence Producer: [Nikki Kefford](<https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6035054/>)
- Sequence Designer & Director, The Labyrinth: [Gergely Wootsch](<https://gergely-wootsch.com>)
- Sequence Director, The Tall Grass and Red Wings: [Marcus Armitage](<https://www.marcusanimation.co.uk/>)
- Sequence Director, Mirrors: [Steve Small](<https://www.stevesmall.co.uk/>)
- Sequence Director, The Opening and the Abyss: [Philip Hunt](<https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0402601/>)
- Editor: [Nic Gill](<https://uk.linkedin.com/in/nic-gill-5a81929>)
- Production Co-ordinator: Greta Pylypczak
- Junior Producer: Lara Salam
- Production Assistants: [Sarah McDonald](<https://uk.linkedin.com/in/sjmcdonald1>), Ren Pesci
- Accounting: James Howarth
- Storyboard Artists: [Marcus Armitage](<https://www.marcusanimation.co.uk/>), Margherita Premuroso, Josh Ryba, [Steve Small](<https://www.stevesmall.co.uk/>), Ben Vince, [Gergely Wootsch](<https://gergely-wootsch.com>)
- Concept Artist, The Opening and the Abyss: Margherita Premuroso
- 2D Co-ordinator: Justine Waldie
- 2D Animators: [Marcus Armitage](<https://www.marcusanimation.co.uk/>), [Matthew Armitage](<https://mattarmitageanimation.com/>), Aaron Lampert, [Janina Putzker](<https://vimeo.com/janinaputzker>), [Steve Small](<https://www.stevesmall.co.uk/>)
- 2D Artworkers: [Marcus Armitage](<https://www.marcusanimation.co.uk/>), [Matthew Armitage](<https://mattarmitageanimation.com/>), Aaron Lampert, Sharon Liu, [Janina Putzker](<https://vimeo.com/janinaputzker>), Justine Waldie
- 2D Compositing: [Marcus Armitage](<https://www.marcusanimation.co.uk/>), [Matthew Armitage](<https://mattarmitageanimation.com/>), Ignatz Johnson-Higham, Aaron Lampert, [Janina Putzker](<https://vimeo.com/janinaputzker>)
- Technical Supervisor, The Opening and the Abyss: [Gergely Wootsch](<https://gergely-wootsch.com>)
- Technical 3D Artist, The Labyrinth and Mirrors: [Gergely Wootsch](<https://gergely-wootsch.com>)
- 3D Layout Artists: Sara Diaz, [Jerome Ferra](<https://jeromeferra3d.com/>), [Anna Kubik](<https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4164590/>), Derick Wicks
- 3D Animators: Gary Cureton, Guillaume Glachant, Noemie Lafrontiere, [Gergely Wootsch](<https://gergely-wootsch.com>)
- Texture Artist: Minh Dieu Thanh Pham
- 3D Compositing: [Will Eagar](<https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4896534/>), [Daniel Garnerone](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-garnerone-4607257/>), [Vincent Husset](<https://uk.linkedin.com/in/hussetvincent>), Minh Dieu Thanh Pham, [Gergely Wootsch](<https://gergely-wootsch.com>)
- 3D Artists: Adam O'Sullivan Avery, Rob Chapman, Josh Crew, [Will Eagar](<https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4896534/>), [Jerome Ferra](<https://jeromeferra3d.com/>), [James Gaillard](<https://uk.linkedin.com/in/james-gaillard-76bb2a8>), [Vincent Husset](<https://uk.linkedin.com/in/hussetvincent>), Minh Dieu Thanh Pham, [Gergely Wootsch](<https://gergely-wootsch.com>)
- Pipeline: Fabrice Altman, Jeroen Hooghoudt