Supercell and Barton F Graf launched an animated film, produced by House Special, for Supercell’s Boom Beach that features the game’s original villain, Lt. Hammerman, who leads the Blackguard Army.
Barton created the film about Hammerman’s loneliness and search for friends with the only logical solution: a big, animated song and dance number complete with over the top dance routine, flamethrowers and the singing voice of a Broadway star.
The film launched to promote Supercell’s new in-game feature that lets players design bases for Lt. Hammerman called the Blackguard Base builder. But why would players want to design bases for the very army they’re supposed to defeat? And why would Lt. Hammerman invite players to help him? Because the life of an evil super villain is super lonely, that’s why.
Kirk Kelley of House Special directed “It’s Lonely At The Top.”
Credits
Client Supercell/Boom Beach Agency Barton F Graf Production/Animation House Special, Portland, Ore. Kirk Kelley, creative dir./director; Karly Richter, producer; Lourri Hammock, exec producer; Cam Wiliams, editor; Rex Carter, Flame artist; Tim Price, storyboard artist; Alan Cook, environment designer, matte painter; Greg Kyle, animation lead; Beavan Blocker, Josh Look, animators; Karl Richter, VFX lead; Patrick VanPelt, TD; Kendra Phillips, modeling artist; Nikie Monteleone, texture artist, set dresser; Jose Diaz, set dresser/VFX; Matt Reslier, Isaiah Palmer, ltg. aratists; John Lally, rigger; John Corbett, compositor. (Toolbox: Maya, Nuke, Houdini, Mari, Flame, Photoshop, Shotgun). Music Butter Music & Sound Andrew Sherman, composer; Kristin Kuriashi, producer; Ian Jeffreys, exec producer. Audio Post Heard City Evan Mangiamele, engineer.
FCB Health New York, an IPG Health company, and SAFE Project have joined forces to create “The Snowball,” a short film that spotlights winter as a common catalyst for dangerous increases in alcohol consumption. In collaboration with creative studio LOBO, “The Snowball” combines a compelling visual metaphor with cutting-edge animation and a haunting soundtrack from Billie Holiday.
As millions embrace “Dry January,” the onset of colder, shorter winter days still leads to an uptick in alcohol misuse, which can lead to liver cirrhosis and other medical maladies and dangerous consequences for one’s life. Speaking to casual drinkers, “The Snowball” visually illustrates how anyone is at risk of becoming addicted to alcohol during this time of year when external climate variables can lead to excess consumption, even if the drinker does not immediately realize it.
Making good on the metaphor, the film follows one man as a quick liquor run gradually devolves into a full-blown addiction as a snowball gradually grows beside him, engulfing his whole life and eventually causing his demise. Set to the tune of Billie Holiday’s “Everything I Have Is Yours,” the film’s pathos is drawn from the sonic integrity of Holiday’s original recording maintained in the sound design as well as the singer’s tragic battle with substance abuse.
This entirely animated film was created using a hands-on, collaborative process rooted in traditional animation techniques, with every aspect of the artwork creation, design, and craftsmanship crafted entirely by human hands. AI-driven tools and processes were brought in during the animation rendering stage, helping the film achieve a distinct visual style that would have been difficult to achieve through... Read More
