When Smith Brothers Agency landed the national launch of Red Bull’s first-ever new flavors, they turned to Animal, Inc for help. With a small team, and an even tighter deadline, the Animal team, led by director Samm Hodges, designed a :30 & :15 to announce Red Bull’s three new flavors: cranberry, lime and blueberry.nnThe only creative mandate was to use the new cans – and those cans only – to tell the story. nnThe idea of flight in some ways is a straightforward choice for Red Bull, who of course, “gives you wings.” Characterizing that flight as something unique and compelling on a crazy tight turnaround was a little less straightforward. Animal‘s Samm Hodges said, “We immediately came to the conclusion that we didn’t want to have the cans form any man-made object like planes or jet turbines. Instead, we took cues from nature, especially the flocking of birds and fractal patterns to communicate flight in a more abstract way. It took a little custom coding and a lot of trial and error, but we ended up with something everyone involved was really proud of.”nnThe cg team, headed up by lead cg artist Lenny Wilson, had about four weeks to make more than 40,000 cans take flight. nn
nView ‘Flight’ here. nnMedia placement includes massive YouTube and Spotify preroll buys, ESPN and MTV website takeovers, NBA playoff banners, and massive outdoor LCD screens at Penn Station and Victory Park.nnCreditsnAd Agency Smith Brothers Agency, Pittsburgh, PAnCo-Chief Creative Officers Lindsey & Bronson SmithnExecutive Creative Director/Digital Brian MoorenCreative Director/Writer Cathy BowennArt Director Geoff HoskinsonnAccount Supervisor Kelly McCormicknAssociate Director of Production Sam KesslernProduction Company: AnimalnDirector: Samm HodgesnCreative Director: Michael KillennExecutive Producer: Kathy DziubeknCG Lead: Lenny WilsonnAnimator: Carver KoallanAnimator: Marcin ZeglinskinAnimator: Julio ClavijonAnimator: Hannes WeikertnEditor: Steve HoovernColorist: Allan Stallard nProducer: Nathan VoltznAssociate Producer: Ally OleyniknnAbout AnimalnFounded in 2001 by director and vfx artist Michael Killen, vfx artist Jim Kreitzburg and Executive Producer Kathy Dziubek, Animal operates as a lean, multi-disciplinary studio, partnering with national and international brands and advertising agencies to deliver world-class visual effects and transmedia for the broadcast, broadband and feature film worlds.nnAnimal interweaves post production and production, providing creative and technical involvement at the conceptual stage, as well as on set supervision and custom-tailored services across the range of offerings from both studios, including motion graphics, visual effects and CGI, color grading, finishing and compositing.nnFor more information, please visit www.animaleast.com
Kathy Dziubek Animal 412-566-5656 Contact Kathy via email
Pioneering The Visual Narrative: Bobola Oniwura’s Impact on Nollywood’s Cinematic Evolution
Nollywood is in the middle of a visual revolution, and at its core is Bobola Oniwura, the mastermind behind some of the industry’s most striking cinematic transformations. Oniwura is a pioneering colorist whose unique approach to film aesthetics has set new standards for how Nigerian stories are told on screen. From the gritty realism of King of Boys: The Return of the King to the vibrant energy of A Tribe Called Judah, Oniwura’s work has become synonymous with a new era of cinematic excellence, one where color grading is no longer an afterthought but a defining narrative tool. The film industry in Nigeria known as Nollywood has grown into one of the most prolific cinematic powerhouses in the world. Producing thousands of films annually, it ranks alongside Hollywood and Bollywood in terms of output. Once characterized by rapid, low-budget productions, Nollywood has undergone a remarkable transformation, embracing higher production values, diverse storytelling, and international recognition. The industry’s films now command global audiences, made possible by platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, and receiving acclaim at major festivals. This evolution has been fueled by creatives like Oniwura, who are redefining the post-production technical standards of Nigerian films. His impact extends beyond the color suite. Drawing on his background in Architecture and user experience research, Oniwura approaches color grading with an acute understanding of audience perception, crafting visual experiences that enhance storytelling, evoke emotion, and immerse viewers in the rich textures of Nigerian culture. His ability to merge technical precision with artistic intuition has positioned him as one of the most sought-after colorists in Nollywood... Read More