Ad Astra

Territory Studio created screen graphics for James Gray's Ad Astra, working with VFX Producer Allen Maris and consulting with NASA and JPL engineers to bring scientific and military authenticity to this deep space saga. Designs were deliberately grounded — utilitarian in aesthetic with simple colour palettes befitting the military nature of a mission threatening human existence.

Key visual elements include U.S. Space Command Border Protection Terminals, Message Centre Apps, and a Mars Map Tablet displaying detailed terrain above and below the Red Planet's surface. Higher colour values were used in places to ensure animations read clearly through thick plexiglass tablets.

A standout sequence visualises radiation waves sweeping across space toward Earth. Director James Gray requested a pared-down, schematic look — after exploring over a dozen approaches, Territory settled on a 2D graphic representation that captures the scale of the event moving through the solar system in a memorable and compelling way.

Vehicle monitors and planetary landing screens provide detailed spatial analysis during flight sequences, while breaking news and airport flight information boards add further layers of authenticity to the near-future world.

Client: 20th Century Studios