Super Bowl XLVI Roundup: Psyop for MetLife – “Everyone”

While we can’t speak for everybody, we were generally underwhelmed by the assemblage of usually impressive commercials to air during Super Bowl XLVI. Unquestionably, game day saw an onslaught of auto spots, and while we’re not here to argue the cool factor of Clint Eastwood selling us a Chrysler or Matthew Broderick dishing out another Ferris Bueller movie, what works for the slick, more agency-driven sites doesn’t always work for Motionographer. That said, we saw one spot(s) that we felt deserved a little love.

In an epic reunion of classic cartoon characters from years gone by, MetLife’s Everyone, created by Psyop and agency CP+B, hold an all-star family reunion of old-school toons. Not since Roger Rabbit have animation fans seen so many of their childhood pals together in one super-nostalgic, simply awesome homecoming. The piece trots back in time to the days of Peanuts, Warner Brothers, Filmation and Hanna-Barbera but stops short of bridging the generational gap with the Nickelodeon, WB, and the Disney Channel era of TV toons. After all, who better than He-Man — 80s hand-drawn muscleman and defender of Eternia — to ensure the financial security of every family, everywhere? And, if you’re inspired to geek out even more, then check out the mini-spots below and watch Voltron do The Robot, Snagglepuss throw a tantrum, directors search for Waldo or  Yosemite Sam have a celebrity-style meltdown.

CREDITS

Voltron Doing The Robot Between Takes of MetLife’s “Everyone”

Snagglepuss Won’t Be Ignored — Behind-The-Scenes of MetLife’s “Everyone”

Director Searching For Waldo on the Set of MetLife’s “Everyone”

Yosemite Sam Melts Down on the Set of MetLife’s “Everyone”

Happycamper for China Mobile: “Wireless City”

Happycamper spent the fall of 2011 working alongside China Mobile to create an ambitious mixed-media piece in Wireless City. Using a combination of traditional model-making techniques and 3D technology, the spot bridges the gap between traditional and digital mediums. With a meticulous craftsmanship, the audience remains oblivious to the integration of contrasting techniques, and the difference between what is physical and inanimate becomes indistinguishable. The result is seamless. Working from sketches, maquette models, and architectural blue-prints, Happycamper enlisted the help of Vaidas Bagonas for character design, Milford for final models and Codsteaks for the creation of small props and set building.

Check out an in-depth look into the creation of Happycamper’s Wireless City here.
Watch Happycamper’s Wireless City with subtitles here.

Legs for Diet Coke in “Love it Light”

Legs hooked up with Diet Coke and put together an all-girl ensemble — of marionettes! Directed by Georgie Greville and Geremy Jasper, Love It Light introduces us to three British beauties who are having a bad day in the big city. The puppetry technique — originally coined as supermarionation — goes back to the 1960s but received a satirical embrace from the agency world after 2004′s Team America: World Police film stormed the box office. In lieu of computer-generated images, Legs runs with a look that’s more crass than polish and employs many hallmark devices of a prototypical girl drama.

Oscar Nominees 2012: Best Animated Short Film

The nominations for the 84th Academy Awards are in, and although they were announced last week, we thought we’d dig up snippets of each flick for Best Animated Short Film to share with you today. Say hello to the contenders!

Animated Short Film Nominees:

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg)

Dimanche/Sunday (Patrick Doyon)

La Luna (Enrico Casarosa)

A Morning Stroll (Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe)

Wild Life (Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby)

This Idea Is Not Working by Henrique Barone

After we were initially sent Henrique Barone’s stellar short, This Idea Is Not Working, our jaws hit floor. We immediately wanted to share it with our  Motionographer readers, so got the engine warmed up and put things in motion. Then, something happened: we found out it’s a student piece. Jeepers! We scratched our head and weighed the options. Of course, we do have our Students section and although you can find it there, we were so impressed by Barone’s animation skills that we had no choice but to give it some love in our Main section. One thing we never want Motionographer to become is a place where only big-studios reign supreme and the little guy (you, me, us, etc) has no shot to shine. And not to gush, but it’s rare to find animation so inventive, polished and well-timed—let alone, a student piece. Did we mention that it’s hand-drawn?

After you watch This Idea Is Not Working, be sure to check out a wonderful step-by-step breakdown that the artist put together here.