Burn.Crash.Repeat., a creative production and design studio, recently completed a branding and show graphics package for Comedy Central’s new sports program, Onion Sportsdome. The Onion and Comedy Central teamed up to, in their words, “bring viewers the most intense televised sports news program in recorded human history”. Burn.Crash.Repeat. was called upon to design the wide array of branding, show and segment graphics to help the show achieve the look of an authentic sports news program.
The show’s graphics play an important role throughout and needed to evoke the style of other well-known sports shows, while reflecting the satiric, tongue-in-cheek humor for which The Onion is well-known. The show opens dramatically, as a giant dome-shaped structure explodes from the ground. Glowing golden light emits from within the dome, while the pieces of the dome continue to spin and transform into position. The camera moves through the structure, revealing several mechanical screens showing a variety of sports clips. It then flies past floating metallic letters assembling the Sportsdome logo, before diving into the center of the dome to start the show.
To achieve the perfect balance of authenticity and humor the show embodies, Burn.Crash.Repeat. used familiar sports show graphic themes and manipulated them in specific ways. Branding elements were designed in an over-the-top masculine style, with bold shapes, hard edges and lots of metal. Components mechanically move and transform in a dynamic, but slightly overwrought way, mimicking commonly overused themes from other sports programs. Finally, an abundance of lens flares and other compositing effects were used throughout to add energy and tie the various elements together.
“It was an exciting challenge to design for such a unique television show. We really worked hard to insure the branding and design struck the right balance of fun and authenticity.” says Burn.Crash.Repeat.s Co-Creative Director Greg Anderson.
Onion Sportsdome airs on Tuesdays at 10:30 pm E.S.T. on Comedy Central. For more info on the show, check out www.onionsportsnetwork.com.
About Burn.Crash.Repeat.
Burn.Crash.Repeat. is a creative production studio focusing on design and visual effects oriented projects for advertising and broadcast. Led by creative directors Greg Anderson and Thomas Downs, with an experienced team of designers, animators and filmmakers, the studio specializes in crafting compelling, visually exciting work for a variety of mediums. The studio has recently completed projects for a wide range of clients including MTV, Comedy Central, Directv, Cognizant, Mastercard, McCann Erickson and BBDO/Atmosphere Proximity.
Credits
Creative Directors: Greg Anderson & Thomas Downs
Production Coordinator: Lindsay Seguin
Designers: Chris Mccard, Matthew Lane-Smith, Jeff Baghai
3D Animator: Carmine Laietta