Directorial duo Peking–consisting of Nat Livingston Johnson and Gregory Mitnick)–helmed this three minute video via production company Hey Wonderful for agency Amazon Ads. Titled Sky’s the Limit, the video ties in promotionally to Migration, an animated feature film created by Illumination Entertainment. The Universal Pictures release hits theaters on December 22.
“Sky’s the Limit” introduces us to Magie Tran, a STEM educator at Southwood Valley Elementary. We see Tran and her students on a school bus headed to what she thought was a routine field trip to the Amazon drone facility. Upon the group’s arrival at the facility, a Migration Prime Air drone held a heartwarming surprise, delivering much-needed school supplies for Tran’s students, followed by a second drone delivering an all-expense-paid vacation to Jamaica for Magie and her family, inspired by the ducks’ journey in Illumination’s Migration.
The video taps into the magic of Migration, a holiday release which follows a family of ducks as they take flight into the thrill of the unknown on a funny, feathered family vacation that will expand their horizons and teach them more about each other, and themselves, than they ever dreamed possible. Both Migration and Sky’s the Limit embody the true essence of the holiday season, inspiring the adventurer within and reminding us that sometimes, the most magical moments are the ones we least expect.
Credits
Client Universal Pictures Kristin Johnson, SVP, media; Beth Rehn, SVP, integrated marketing; Alexandra Duffy, VP, integrated marketing. Agency Amazon Ads Rob Alley, head of U.S. talent; Karina Bosiacka-Lilli, creative director, manager; Danielle Gasbarro, sr. copywriter; Adam Connelly, sr. art director; Carrie Schaer, executive producer. Production Company Hey Wonderful Peking, director; Michael Di Girolamo, founder/managing partner; Sarah McMurray, partner/exec producer; Angela Jones, line producer; Jackson Hunt, DP. Editorial Upper Cut Ben McCambridge, editor.
Top Spot of the Week: EHRAC, Animation Studio NOMINT Depict Life “In Limbo” As Families Search For Loved Ones
This animated film titled In Limbo depicts the journey of a heroic woman protagonist representing the countless families in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe (where Chechnya is situated) searching for their forcibly disappeared loved ones. Utilizing theatrical elements, the film highlights the unnatural disruption caused by enforced disappearances and delves into the profound trauma these families endure. It emphasizes their long battles with the domestic authorities as they seek answers. The film also underscores the vital role of community support in helping these families cope and continue their fight for answers, serving as a compelling call to action for justice and human rights.
Through intimate storytelling, In Limbo raises awareness of the ongoing uncertainty that leaves families in a perpetual state of limbo, unable to find closure.
Directed by Afterman--the animation duo consisting of Tsvetelina Zdraveva and Jerred North--and created and produced by London-based animation studio NOMINT, In Limbo was commissioned by the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC).
In a joint statement, Zdraveva and North shared, “Our film takes place on a theater stage, highlighting how such tragedies are far removed from ordinary life,” they continued. “The stage is circular, resembling an artificial, perpetually spinning obstacle course, with a target—the red tail lights—just within sight yet never within reach, symbolizing the family’s never-ending quest for justice.”
“We used a limited primary color palette to contrast the two worlds all families are pulled between. Minimalist compositions of starkly silhouetted characters and environments create the ominous atmosphere of a deeply painful and... Read More