Created entirely in CG, this piece celebrates the design and performance of Mercedes-Benz X-Class, a premium pick-up truck coming to the marketplace in 2018, as it travels with power and elegance through the elements, mastering all kinds of terrain. The spot is the centerpiece of the “First of A New Kind” campaign created by German agency Lukas Lindemann Rosinski and directed by Ole Peters of Sehsucht, Hamburg. Visual effects were headed by Daniel Jahnel, Sehsucht’s VFX supervisor and head of 3D.
As the Mercedes-Benz X-Class will launch next year, the classic rules for car commercials had to be thrown out the window for this campaign. Director Peters used highly advanced technology and epic cinematography to capture the spirit of the car without revealing too much and creating a beautiful film.
Sehsucht director Peters said, “It’s always fun to create a visually epic scenery from scratch. As well as building these various environments, we designed transition effects that could lead from one scene to the next in a smooth and visually interesting way. To do so, we continuously developed and improved our CG pipeline to ensure we were delivering the best simulation, creature and environment work possible.”
Credits
Client Mercedes-Benz Vans Agency Lukas Lindemann Rosinski Arno Lindemann, executive creative director; Tobias Feige, creative director, copy; Dennis Mensching, head of design. Production Sehsucht, Hamburg Ole Peters, direction; Stephan Reinsch, Jan Tiller, producing; Julius Brockelmann, art director; Malte Romainczyk, storyboard; Arthur Jagodda, Joern Fallendorf, editing. Postproduction/VFX Sehsucht, Hamburg, Germany Ole Peters, direction; Daniel Jahnel, VFX supervisor/CG lead; Timo von Wittken, Heinrich Loewe, Sebastian Welti, Jannes Kreyenberg, Thure Koch, Philipp von Preuschen, Frank Spalteholz, Sebastian Kowalski, Stefan Galleithner, Martin Matzeder, Rafael Vicente, Fabian Schaper, Francesco Di Luisi, CG artists; Florian Zachau, compositing lead; Jona Maluck, Alexander von der Lippe, compositing artists; Steven Cormann, DMP; Xavi Santolaya, color grading. (Toolbox: Softimage, Maya, ZBrush, Mari, Substance Painter, Arnold. Rdshift, Houdini, Nuke, Davinci Resolve) Music & Sound Effects 2WEI Music Simon Heeger, Christian Vorlander.
This trailer promotes Charge Around The Globe, a new adventure docuseries that follows record-breaking traveler Lexie Limitless on an extraordinary journey to circumnavigate the globe in an electric vehicle--traveling over 30,000 kilometers across six continents, all in pursuit of one world record. The three-part series on Prime Video in the U.K. showcases the capabilities of modern electric vehicles while immersing viewers in the numerous experiences and challenges Lexie encounters throughout her journey. As she navigates various challenges throughout her trip, Charge Around the Globe serves as a testament to the spirit of exploration. Ford, Wieden+Kennedy London and WracK teamed on the series.
The documentary aims to address the primary concern hindering many consumers from transitioning to electric: doubts about the range and capability of electric vehicles. As a 120-year-old brand, Ford looked to its past as inspiration for the switch that’s taking place today. Over a century ago, pioneering explorer Aloha Wanderwell set off from Nice at the age of 16 to become the first woman to drive around the world in a Ford Model T. Now, in 2024, we get to see Lexie, the youngest person to visit every country in the world, take to the wheel of the electric Ford Explorer, reinventing that historic journey for a new generation. Along the way, she meets extraordinary people, navigates difficult terrains, and faces the challenges of a constantly evolving charging infrastructure that puts her to the test.
“Charge Around The Globe has been the ultimate test drive for our new electric Ford Explorer. We took on every kind of weather and road condition and dealt with just about every charging scenario. The journey embodies the true... Read More
