From Jack’s dynamic linework and wide-angle perspectives to Kate’s hazy, retro-themed aesthetic, the illustrators were chosen for their ability to depict their respective sports and capture not only the energy of the game, but also those who play it. After all, it’s the passionate people behind the sport that make it what it is.

It goes without saying that no sports-themed illustration would be complete without a little movement, so Anyways also worked with a group of talented motion designers to transform the static drawings into short, engaging animations. These show the sport being played, and then the shapes in the animations quickly morph to take the place of the YouTube wordmark.

May Azcue, Creative Producer at YouTube, said of the project: “Our goal was to celebrate the communities around these sports and the way they show up on YouTube throughout the year, often in creative and engaging ways that lean into the joy of the game and the fun of physical achievement rather than the pressure of high-level competition.”