Elastic / A52: Honda Accord “Instruments”

elastic_honda

Design and VFX team Elastic/A52 rock out for Honda Accord in this highly colorful CG jazz spot, as they show off how much hidden space the new Accord Crosstour really offers.

Appealing to a younger, musically-minded target market, its aesthetic and general concept hits a home run. Design-wise, the palette is alive with energy and pop and the beautifully animated characters have a unique look that works an interesting transitional device.

Posted on Motionographer

Framestore: “DJ Hero” Cinematic

DJhero_Cinematic_Framestore1

In the latter-day tradition of epic video-game cinematics, we present DJ Hero. Reared with love by Framestore and directed by Marco Puig, DJ Hero is a knock down, drag out grind in CG overdrive. There’s a lot going on, which—depending on your taste—can work for, or against it.

Through a medley of quick cuts and steely beats, Hero has all the trappings of an action movie—gushing with testosterone, and unabashedly fetishizing explosions and getaway tractor-trailers. The whole shebang kicks off like a DJ set—mix-matching and beat-juggling through an evolving cast of rogue characters and sticky situations.

The look is industrial, borrowed from the classic fusion of sci-fi and grit—popularized by films like Blade Runner. Through a loose narrative and several character face-offs, the piece crescendos with a throng of break-dancers, as the DJ—our master of ceremonies and resident “Hero”—spins a record or two in a celebratory close.


CLIENT Activision / Freestyle Games
PRODUCTION COMPANY Framestore in association with Warp Films
DIRECTOR Marco Puig
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Simon Whalley (Framestore)
DIGITAL PRODUCER Mike Woods (Framstore)
PRODUCER Diarmid Scrimshaw (Warp Films)

VFX Framestore
VFX SUPERVSIOR Diarmid Harrison-Murray
SENIOR CG PRODUCER Sarah Hiddlestone
ANIMATION LEADS Nicklas Andersson, Mike Mellor
FX LEAD Martin Aufinger
RIGGING/CLOTH James Healy
LEAD MODELLING Alex Doyle
TELECINE COLOURIST Simon Bourne

Posted on Motionographer

D.A.D.D.Y. B.B.A.B

daddy_sheep
Dublin-based directing team, D.A.D.D.Y., has once again laid there quirky hand on an unlikely brand. In association with Mother, London and Blink Ink, they’ve created four fake, animated PSAs for the “British Biscuit Advisory Board” (Rocky Biscuits) to promote safe biscuit-eating practices.

Both the characters and copy are rendered with a classic, dry British wit. Here’s all four of the films: Temp Storage, Quality Control, Opening Education & Meal Health.

Client: Rocky
Agency: Mother, London
Production Company: Blinkink, London
Director: D.A.D.D.Y
Producer: James Bretton
Editor: D.A.D.D.Y
Audio Post-Production: Factory Studios

Posted on Motionographer

Tesi di laurea – Steel life

Spesso qualcuno ci dice di essere parecchio “esterofili” pur essendo “motiongraphicspuntoIT” ed in effetti non possiamo negare la netta prevalenza di recensioni su materiale straniero rispetto a quello italiano, ma c’è da ammettere che è proprio quel materiale che spesso diventa fonte di ispirazione e ci insegna qualcosa.
Oggi vorremmo mostrarvi il progetto di Mathieu Gérard (neolaureato in Arte e Tecnologia dell’immagine all’università di Parigi) che ha portato come testi di laurea. Il titolo è “Steel life” un cortometraggio in CG veramente interessante, non è solo bello… è fatto bene. Ovviamente non è piovuto dal cielo, è sicuramente frutto di tanto lavoro.
Forse questa per qualche neolaureato italiano (in materie inerenti ovviamente) potrebbe risultare una provocazione, beh in effetti lo è. In quanti potete vantare un biglietto da visita post laurea (la tesi di laurea dovrebbe esserlo) un progetto già premiato per ben 11 volte? E non ci parlate solo di congiunzioni astrali negative o del docente del mesozoico che vi ha fatto scrivere il papiro con presentazione power point allegata.

Making Of

Supinfocom :: OCEANSIZE

oceansize

This massive 8-minute offering from four Supinfocom Arles students may be the most ambitious student piece I have ever seen—and it’s my favorite to date.

Amazing attention to detail, exquisite lighting, and epic matte paintings are just the beginning of this oil rigging adventure gone wrong.  The suspense follows 2 futuristic oil riggers, one barring a remarkably close resemblance to Romain Jouandeau himself, as they square off against what they are looking for in the first place. Unfortunately for their sake, it finds them.

Created in 10 months by Romain Jouandeau, Adrien Chartie, Gilles Mazières and Fabien Thareau, this project has some truly beautiful moments.  It also boasts a very high level of skill in the technical department, with an awesome combined use of Realflow and the 3D Max plug-in, Dreamscape.

For a behind the scenes look at the making of Oceansize and other delectable goodies, be sure to look here at the official site.  For even more excellent sketches, concept art and matte painting work, have a look at Romain’s personal site.

Posted on Motionographer

Optix Digital for Bontrust and Inlingua

bontrust_02

NOTE: Some people might find this not safe for work (NSFW).

Optix Digital, based in Hamburg, Germany, flexes their muscles in two new CG spots. First up is Bontrust “Geldvermehrung” (marginally NSFW).

This may be one of the strongest metaphors I’ve seen in a while for global economic convergence. It’s also loads of fun. Unique character designs and a full narrative arc are packed into the tiny space of the spot.

The circling cameras and love-bird music set the perfect stage for what lay ahead at the climax of the story. (Wink, wink.) I wish we could get away with making this type of work in the States!

For a little more behind the Bontrust project, including process images from Optix, read on.

inlingua

Next up, an action-packed, type-based spot for Inlingua.

Key words and economic phrases comprise helicopters, fighter jets, tanks, and explosions—all obstacles we fight as we make our way toward the final goal. The POV camera work and excellent sound design help sell the ambiance of warfare and chaos as we duck in and around bunkers and dodge bombs of type.

Bontrust

Client: Bontrust Finance

Agency: Grabarz & Partner Werbeagentur GmbH, Fedja Kehl / Paul von Mühlendahl

Production: OPTIX Kreation

Producer: Steffi Beck, Tobias Ziegler

Creation: Andreas Pohl (CD / animation director), Petra Delitsch (AD)

3D Animation: Markus Geerts (Leadartist), Michael Gottschalk, Florian Weyh, Marc Goecke

Posted on Motionographer

Three Legged Legs for Wrigley’s

wrigleys_3ll
The Three Legged Legs have been busy the past few months as they drop two spots for Wrigley’s: Evolution and Universe. Although the evolution concept is nothing new (see Saturn and Guinness) the Legs brought the humor and unique aesthetic flavor that we’ve come to know and love. Their attention to detail, from miniature environments to CG characters, is worth a second watch.

However, the thing that all of us at Motionographer HQ can’t get enough of is Three Legged Leg’s amazing behind-the-scenes pages. Like most of their projects, they share every step of their creative and technical process. So, if you’ve got some time to kill or are a student looking to demystify some inspiring work — get lost in it.


Credits

CLIENT – Wrigleys

“Evolution”
DIRECTOR – Three Legged Legs
PRODUCTION COMPANY – Green Dot Films
MANAGING DIRECTOR – Rick Fishbein
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – Darren Foldes, Rich Pring
PRODUCER – Steven Steiner
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY – Tim Angulo

AGENCY – DDB Chicago
CHIEF CREATIVE DIRECTOR – Susan Pranica
ART DIRECTOR – Nikki Baker
COPYWRITER -Travis Parr
CREATIVE DIRECTOR – Dick Tracy
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – Marion Lange
PRODUCER – Melissa Barany

POST PRODUCTION – Three Legged Legs
CREATIVE DIRECTOR – Greg Gunn, Casey Hunt, Reza Rasoli
POST PRODUCER – Mary Ann Cabrera
DESIGN – Tuna Bora, Monica Grue, Matt Nava, Thomas Yamaoka
CG ARTISTS – Grace Lee, Dan Qureshi
COMPOSITING – Thoma Horne, Tyler Nathan, Yanko Sanchez
CHARACTER ANIMATORS – Jameson Baltes, Regev Gamliel, Matt Nava, Robin Steele
LIGHTING/FUR – Bill Dorais
FAITHFUL INTERNS – Anne Her, Max Song
MINIATURE FABRICATION – Merritt Productions
EDITORIAL – Three Legged Legs

“Universe”
DIRECTOR – Three Legged Legs
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY – Rebecca Baehler, Nathan Nebeker
PRODUCTION COMPANY – Green Dot Films
MANAGING DIRECTOR – Rick Fishbein
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – Darren Foldes, Rich Pring
PRODUCER – Steven Steiner

AGENCY – DDB Chicago
CHIEF CREATIVE DIRECTOR – Dick Tracy
ART DIRECTOR – Alex Zamiar
PRODUCER – Marion Lange
COPYWRITER – Jonathan Richman

POST PRODUCTION – Three Legged Legs
CREATIVE DIRECTOR – Greg Gunn, Casey Hunt, Reza Rasoli
POST PRODUCER – Rebecca Blankenship, Mary Ann Cabrera
ANIMATION – Marco Campobasso, Chin Fu, Matt Nava, Tyler Nathan
DESIGN – Tuna Bora, George Fuentes, Mark Kulakoff
CG ARTISTS – Grace Lee
PHOTOGRAPHY – Teri Fisher, Christine Peters
FAITHFUL INTERNS – Anne Her, Max Song
EDITORIAL – Three Legged Legs

Posted on Motionographer