Juan Behrens & Morea TV Light Up the Genome for Illumina

Designer/animation director Juan Behrens, whose work we’ve featured here, teams with EP/DOP Kevin Pham’s new prodco Morea TV to demystify genomic science with abstraction and atmosphere in this film for US biotech Illumina.

Juan Behrens: “Illumina asked us to create a sizzle film for TruPath™ Genome, a sequencing system designed to deliver a more complete view of the human genome, enabling more confident detection of rare disease variants.

“The challenge was making it feel precise and cinematic without flattening the science. We worked closely with Illumina’s experts to fully understand the mechanics, logic, and constraints behind the technology before designing a single frame.
 

“The challenge was making it feel precise and cinematic without flattening the science.”

 
“The solution began with ‘storygraphs’ and storyboards. That structure had to hold up under internal scientific review before production could start. Once it did, we built a visual language around the logic of mapped reads, shaped to align with Illumina’s brand while remaining scientifically accurate.

“The soundtrack was developed with the same rigor. Composer Pim van den Heuvel derived the harmonic framework from the molecular structure of DNA itself, using the base letters C, G, T, and A as musical starting points, creating a theme that fit the technology and its narrative from the ground up.”
 

Storygraphs

 
Two line graphs on a black background show changes over time. The top graph maps audio intensity, with labeled colored sections. The bottom graph highlights editing style from abstract to explainer, marked by an orange waveform referencing TruPath Genome analysis. Frame from Stash Magazine article.
 

Images

 
Abstract digital image featuring colorful, glowing lines and rectangles on a dark background, with curved arrows connecting some of the rectangles, evoking data flow or network connections—reminiscent of Illumina’s dynamic genome analysis. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

Abstract image with soft orange, yellow, and purple light gradients, a gridded or dotted surface in the foreground, and a curved, glowing light streak—capturing the visual essence of the Illumina TruPath Genome brand film by Juan Behrens & Morea TV. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

A digital abstract image featuring a long, colorful, glowing rectangular beam extending into the distance, surrounded by floating geometric shapes—evoking the innovative spirit of Illumina—set against a dark background. Frame from Stash Magazine article.

A stylized DNA double helix with Illumina TruPath Genome text overlaid on a dark background with subtle grid lines. Frame from Stash Magazine article.
 

Credits

 
Client: Illumina

Production: Morea TV
EP: Kevin Pham
Associate Producer: Marcos Medvedov, Viartco
Designer/Animation Director: Juan Behrens
Designer/Animator: Gautier Sire, Juan Behrens

Music/Sound: Pim van den Heuvel, Hill and the Valley