Motion Theory for Nike: “Sumo” and “Oneball”

Motion Theory and Nike make a beautiful team. I still remember posting a two-spot campaign way back in the Tween days in which MT used Processing (among a slew of other tricks) to create complex spheres of text that orbited around products and people. It was an elegant way to convey complexity.

Watch “Sumo” | Watch “Oneball”

In that same spirit, Motion Theory has created two new spots, “Sumo” and “Oneball.” Both use a kind of four-dimensional snapshot effect to suggest that the products are packed with Nike R&D. Director Mathew Cullen did a great job building dramatic tension throughout the spots, making sure that the swing from each of the players feels like a climactic release of power.

The music and sound design really add a great deal to these spots. I’m working on full credits; as soon as I get them, I’ll share them here. I’ll also have some stills from the print campaign, which MT handled as well.

UPDATE: Just posted the full credits for this project. The music was created by Hum, whom I’ve added to the Cream O’ the Crop in the audio section. Fantastic stuff.

Full credits

Only Superfad

I like the sparse layouts and sound design in this new campaign from Superfad for the California Lottery. The writing and animation are exceptionally well integrated, too. They’re just fun, friendly little spots.

Hokusai An Animated Sketchbook

This award winning short film was written, directed, and animated by Tony White all the way back in 1978. The film brings to life the worlds of Japanese master painter, Katsushika Hokusai (1760—1849).

Best known for his iconic, The Great Wave, but his other paintings of Edo period Japan are equally as amazing (he left around 30,000 works at his time of death)!

His work is so influential, you can still see it influencing todays artists (kozynday / sony bravia bunny wave?). He was also an early pioneer of anime / cartoon porn (might not strictly be true :)), check out Dream of a Fishermans Wife!

For more information on Hokusai – Here and Here

Interview with Tony White – here

(source: cpluv)

Fast Draw on CBS News

Josh Landis and Mitch Butler combined some bad green-screening, a whiteboard and After Effects to explain the mystifying concept of super-delegates. Katie Couric loved it. How about you?

Said Landis in this New York Times story: “Animation allows us to take complex topics and explain them in very simple ways.â€? I couldn’t have said it (or drawn it) better myself.

Digital Kitchen for Target

Watch “Art Transports” | Watch “Art Imagines”

The latest two outdoor Target promos from Digital Kitchen’s Chicago office couldn’t be more different. “Art Transports” is clad in Target’s trademark red and white palette and centered around a cute girl who bikes, snowboards and drifts through musical landscapes. “Art Imagines” features a live action dancer who builds a world of immense detail with every movement of his body.

I’d love to see these on their intended displays at Victory Park in Dallas or at the Los Angeles Staples Center. The outdoor venue encourages longer form messaging and a more relaxed paced than the typical frenetic demands of a :30 broadcast spot. DK handled the shift in medium well.

Full credits

Simon Robson and Nexus Save the Children

Watch “Clever”

Nexus Productions director Simon Robson has done it again, this time for the kids. “Clever,” a promo for Save the Children UK, is full of Simon’s characteristic visual wit. Simon’s sensitivity to message combined with his penchant for fluid transitions and lucid metaphors make this latest project a fine addition to his growing body of brilliant work.

As one of Motionographer’s crew, Simon scooped us a little behind-the-scenes information.

So how much freedom did you have with this project?
In terms of freedom; I was asked to pretty much develop the ideas and storyboards from scratch. This all started in December which was the pre-production period. We were originally given rough boards from the agency, but I was asked to start from scratch.

They had certain prerequisites, like using some of the “Barry”-esque camera moves and keeping the design for the most part simple and iconic. The thinking at the agency was that by keeping a clean, iconic style we could be very “matter of fact” about the “simple solutions” the commercials describe that can make a huge impact on kids’ lives.

I developed loads of ideas for the boards, these often had to change due to creative preference at W+K and changes in the script. Unusually for me, i had a lot of conversations / interaction with the client as well as the agency. This was really useful as Joe at Save The Children is incredibly passionate about his position and was able to help a lot in terms of hitting the right tone.

What kind of assets did they provide you? Was it a completely blank slate?
Graphically, Save The Children already had their character, the kid with the smiling mouth you see in the spot. We needed to include him, along with sticking to a blue, white and yellow colour palette.

Read on →

Mixtape Club trips out with Yeasayer

You ever have one of those “special cookies” and your day turns into an insane trip where beetles crawl all over you and the entire world turns into a rotting apple?….No? Well dont worry, New York’s Mixtape Club has just made a music video for band Yeasayer to bring that vision to you free of cookie.

One of the things that I have always respected about Mixtape Club is their ability to use whatever methods necessary to get the best story across and to not always depend on the same process for their work. For this video they implemented a mix of stop motion, video feedback, photocopy feedback along with the after effects and maya standards. Due to their mixed method approach, each project they do is a unique vision instead of the copy and pasted style that tends to happen with groups like this. Kudos to Mixtape.

View High Quality

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Pierre Michel: Fire Flower

Pierre Michel’s latest film, “Fire Flower,” is an abstract vision of sensuality with hints of alchemical mysticism. Like Pierre’s other films, this project derives its power from an intense focus on texture and color backed by a dramatic soundtrack.

NOTE: This film contains mildly erotic imagery, and depending on where you work/live, this may not be suitable for viewing on a shared display.

You can see all of Pierre Michel’s films on his website. Pierre is repped by Paranoid in France and ParanoidUS globally.

Motionographer is also hosting mirrored versions of “Fire Flower” in HD and SD

Flourescent Hill for The New Pornographers

Montreal studio Flourescent Hill had mitosis on the brain when they dreamed up “Myriad Harbour,” a music video for The New Pornographers’ latest album, Challengers.

QuickTime version available here.

Via Drawn!

Jeffrey Metzner: 1941-2008

Jeffrey Metzner, head of the Motion Graphics dept at the School of Visual Art, passed away Friday, February 15th. While I didn’t know Mr. Metzner, he had a profound impact on many of his students. Here’s what one of them had to say:

I was a student of his, and his totally open ended interpretation of what motion graphics is, and should be, molded me into the designer and artist I am today. It’s safe to say, I would not be in the industry I am in, or have the job I have without Jeff Metzner ‘s guidance.

Mention his name to any boutique motion house in New York City and you’re guaranteed to meet someone who’s experienced him and the type of student he cultures in his class. It’s also worth mentioning that this was a man in his 60′s teaching and influencing the motion graphics industry, an industry well known for having an average age of 26.

UPDATE: Here are the (new) service arrangements:

A Gathering for Family and Friends of Jeffrey Ethan Metzner
Tibet House
22 West 15th St.
between 5th and 6th Ave.
NYC
4-6 pm Tuesday, Feb 19, 2008

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Jeffrey’s name to The Visual Arts Foundation at The School of Visual Arts.

Memorial service to be held at a later date.