2D Animator Needed for Cinematic Animated Lyric Video (Hand-Painted / Anime-Inspired Style)

I'm looking for a talented 2D animator and illustrator to create a cinematic animated lyric video that feels more like a short animated film than a traditional music video. This is an original project featuring custom-designed characters. The story centers on two women, with one secretly in love with the other, who is a famous public figure. The animation should focus on emotion, atmosphere, and storytelling. Visual Style The style should be similar to high-quality hand-painted digital animation with: Beautiful hand-painted backgrounds Soft cinematic lighting Rich blues, purples, pinks, and subtle neon colors A realistic city at night with rain, reflections, glowing advertisements, moving traffic, and crowds Smooth 2D character animation Natural, expressive facial animation Slight anime influence without looking overly cartoonish A quiet, emotional, film-like atmosphere The city should feel alive and become an important part of the story. Story The main character is an ordinary young woman walking through a busy city at night. Everywhere she looks, she sees the woman she's secretly in love with: Giant billboards Digital advertisements Magazine covers Store windows Bus stop posters LED displays Phone notifications It should feel as though the entire city revolves around this famous person while the main character remains invisible. Throughout the song, reality gradually blends into fantasy. During these dreamlike moments, the two characters finally share peaceful scenes together—walking through quiet streets, watching sunsets, sitting on rooftops, and looking at the stars. When the chorus ends, the fantasy fades and reality returns. The emotional themes are: Longing Hope Loneliness Vulnerability Quiet admiration Lyric Integration I do not want standard subtitles. The lyrics should become part of the environment, for example: Billboards LED screens Train windows Phone notifications Reflections in puddles Glass buildings Sidewalks Night sky Stars during dream sequences The lyrics should feel like the main character's thoughts becoming part of the world around her. Deliverables Full HD (1920×1080) or 4K Original artwork (no AI-generated images or animation) Smooth 2D animation Cinematic lighting and color grading Lyric integration throughout the video Final video synchronized to the song Please Include in Your Proposal Examples of similar cinematic or story-driven animation work Your estimated timeline Your estimated budget The software you plan to use Any creative ideas or suggestions you think would improve the project I'm looking for someone who enjoys visual storytelling and can create an emotional, cinematic experience rather than a flashy music video. If that sounds like your style, I'd love to hear from you.