BENT Image Lab resurrects the characters from the Rankin/Bass perennial holiday classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” for CBS Television. The iconic stop motion special is celebrating 50 years and as a nod to the golden anniversary, CBS aired a :30 promotional spot and 14 interstitials featuring Rudolph and Sam the Snowman. BENT’s Chel White was tapped to direct the animation that blends seamlessly into live action plates.

“Our studio has been called the ‘keepers of the style’ in terms of the ‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’ and the Rankin/Bass type of character animation,” says White. “Because we have such a history both with CBS and the Rudolph style, they trusted us to simply take the ball and run with it. We also created the promos for CBS’s 40th anniversary of Rudolph, so it made perfect sense for them to knock on our door for the 50th anniversary.”

The promos feature Rudolph and Sam making their way through CBS studios while greeting the stars of the commercial broadcast network as they prepare for the holidays. BENT recreated the classic Rudolph and Sam puppets and then handed them off to stop motion animator Jen Prokopowicz to complete the animation process, which she shot in front of a green screen. The animation was later composited into live action plates of CBS studios. Ric Serena served as live-action director for CBS.

“Ever since I was a kid I enjoyed watching the original ‘Rudolph’ every year on television,” says White. They seemed like toys come to life. The animation itself is a little rough compared to today’s standards but that’s part of the charm, part of the patina, When you really look at the original character and set designs, they were very well crafted. I find it fascinating how the original ‘Rudolph’ show continues to resonate year after year, generation after generation, It begins with the simple fact that it is a good story well told. Never underestimate the power of a good story.”

Credits

Client CBS/50th Anniversary of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” Agency CBS (in-house) Matt Hernandez, Val Dillingham, creative directors; Chris Kneller art director/lead designer; Ric Serena, live-action director. Production Moving Parts, Inc. Romi Laine, producer; Tyler Allison. Animation BENT Image Lab, Portland, Ore. Chel White, director; Ray Di Carlo, Tsui Ling Toomer, exec producers; Paul Diener, head of production; Mark Axton, line producer; Jen Prokopowicz, animator; Gregory Fosmire, art director/set designer; David Trappe, DP; Michael Smith, gaffer; James Birkett, Rodrigo Melgarejo, grips; Brett Superstar, scenics; Stephen Grossman, production coordinator; Evan Stewart, art department coordinator; James Meinecke, art department assistant; Marty Easterday, mold maker; Kimmy Kaplowitz, puppet fabricator; Dan Kim, Andrew Dieffenbach, Adam Sager, compositors; Andy Cunial, jr. compositor; David Manuel, Morgaine Faye, illustration artists; Stephen Bodin, 2D composite/clean-up artist; Kye Krauter, edit supervisor; Brent Heise, Ben Mercer editors. Editorial Serena Creative Ric Serena, editor.

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