3D-Animated Film Celebrates The Science of Memory Chipmaking With Nanoscale Artistry
Creative studio Midnight Sherpa animated a brand anthem for Applied Materials – the leader in materials engineering behind virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. Titled “We Work Here,” the three-minute film celebrates 60 years of future-shaping innovation in science and technology at Applied Materials.
The epic 3D film takes viewers on an immersive journey through the unseen world where Applied Materials works every day developing memory chip components. The result is an unprecedented, true-to-scale visualization of a frontier that scientists affectionately call the “Nanosphere.” “We Work Here” premiered at the 2020 SEMICON West conference as part of CEO Gary Dickerson’s virtual keynote address.
“Existing at a scale that is nearly one billionth of a meter, the ‘Nanosphere’ is invisible to the naked eye yet it is everywhere in the products we use,” says Midnight Sherpa Founder/Creative Director Miguel Lee. “The opportunity to partner with Applied Materials and create this unseen world in a way that’s never been done was a dream project — a beautiful union of art and science.”
Midnight Sherpa’s creative brief was twofold: express the high-level materials engineering behind Applied Materials’ capabilities and ingenuity with scientific accuracy and show the grandeur of this world on a scale that would feel spatially relatable and compelling to generalist audiences alike.
“It was an exciting challenge balancing the science of this project with the narrative conventions of good storytelling so that it went beyond simply educating the viewer, but also presenting the world in an entertaining and awe-inspiring way,” remarks Lee.
From coding and scripting to design and animation, the team employed a wide variety of techniques to create an array of otherworldly vignettes representative of the “Nanosphere” – an environment so small and so extreme that no machinery exists at a size to conduct the work.
“The ‘Nanosphere’ is an almost-alien universe where materials are created, shaped, modified, and analyzed using plasma, temperature, and pressure,” says Lee. “We crafted each unique scene with compelling characteristics of form and simulation, with the granular characteristics of each element precisely scaled in nanometers.”
Midnight Sherpa embarked on the two-year project, collaborating closely with agency Silverstein and Associates and a team of technologists at Applied Materials’ headquarters in Silicon Valley. They became students of the field in the process, learning the precision and science that goes into each stage of memory chip manufacturing.
“Working closely with the brilliant engineers, chemists, and scientists at Applied Materials was paramount to the design and animation process,” concludes Lee. “With little to no existing visual reference of the elements in the film, we relied heavily on their expertise to depict the complex materials engineering that shape the ‘Nanosphere.’ Applied Materials is the gold standard in chip manufacturers and it was evident why as we had access to their collective brainpower in creating a film that honored scientific consensus across a variety of fields.”
Midnight Sherpa produced “We Work Here” with Houdini and Cinema 4D.
Simian Gets An Evolutionary Boost For Collaboration, Reveals “Teams”
Simian, the showreel-building, review & approval, and production asset management platform used globally by creative leaders, is kicking off this fall season with a substantial leap forward for collaboration and project management – with more updates on the way during the holidays!
The new feature, aptly dubbed “Teams”, makes it easier than ever for users to give project responsibilities to team members and clients alike. “You can never have too many options when it comes to permission levels,” says Jay Brooks, Simian’s Chief Technology Officer. “Teams provides a streamlined way to assign multiple users to a project at once.”
“Teams are very powerful, but creating one is effortless,” Brian Atton, Simian’s Chief Operating Officer explains. “Simply enter a Team name, add members, and then apply the newly made Team to any desired project. You can even invite temporary guests without changing settings for other projects or needing to create a new Team.”
“We love helping our clients by providing efficient tools to improve their workflow, and this has been a frequently requested feature as of late,” shares Kellie Atton, Head of Sales at Simian. “It feels great to get Teams out into the wild because I know it’s going to be tremendously helpful to everyone who uses it”.
Teams is now available exclusively to Simian’s enterprise clients. Simian plans to release more product upgrades and enhancements during Q4 2024 and 2025 for enterprise and non-enterprise users, continuing its ongoing evolution as the industry’s leading production asset management solution.
For more information on Simian upgrades and features, visit https://www.gosimian.com/
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