Getting back on the farm for Chipotle or visiting the whimsical "Whoopsery" for Chick-fil-A, SHOOT's Q4 VFX & Animation Chart takes us to varied destinations. In one spot, a dinosaur even ends up at the United Nations to address climate change.
We are even asked to navigate a time warp in Lidl's Xmas spot. And feature filmmaker Joe Wright (director of the lauded new feature Cyrano) puts us in a stop motion world in his "Princess & Peppernose" short. These are just some of the notable efforts on display in our Q4 Chart.
So check out our Top Ten entries for the best that visual effects and animation has to offer in the final quarter of 2021.
1: Top Spot of the Week: Director Johnny Kelly, Observatory Head Back To The Farm For Chipotle “Future” Sequel
Client Chipotle Agency Observatory, Los Angeles Production Nexus Studios, London & Los Angeles Johnny Kelly, director & storyboards; Isobel Conroy, sr. producer; Nicole Lopez, production manager; Delfina Maria, production assistant; Melanie Climent, art director; Mark Davies, studio technical lead and 3D previs; Steve White, 3D previs; Fabien Glasse, 3D previs modeler; German Diez, lead compositor; Osman Baloglu, Dalvir Matharu, Gareth Tredrea, compositors; Dave Slade, editor; Duncan Russell, grade; Toby Howell, DP; Robert Thorpe, 1st AD; James Gillett, moco operator; Gary Cureton, Matthew Cooper, lead animators; Tobias Fouracre, additional animator; Robin Jackson, animation rigger; Gordon Allen, art director; Jasmine Nixon, assistant art director; Araba Ocran, sculptor & scenic painter; Areeya Bass, Connor Chung, modelmakers; Collette Pidgeon, laser cut prep; Ewen Dickie, laser cutting; Rosie Tonkin, Brin Frost, standby art dept./set dressing; Ben Cote, stage construction; Richard Davidson, scenic & props painter; Daisy Garside, studio manager; Paul Mortimer, COVID officer/medic. (Toolbox: Photoshop, Illustrator, Maya, AfterEffects, Dragonframe, Nuke) Puppets Sculpt Double, London Joshua Flynn, Nathan Flynn, puppet makers; Laura Tofarides, Rachel Brown, puppet modelmakers. Sound Fonic Barnaby Templer, sound supervisor; Christopher Swaine, sound designer & dubbing mixer; Rory Hunter, Foley recordist; Sue Harding, Foley artist; Ryan Kelly, sound assistant; Eugenie Dunster, audio post coordinator. Music Music by Kacey Musgraves; Ian Fitchuk, Daniel Tashian, Kacey Musgraves, producers. The Elements Music, additional production; Craig Alvin, recorder/mixer; Source Sound Inc. & The Elements music, additional mix. Published by Universal Music-MGB Songs. Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Will Champion, Jonathan Buckland, writers.
2: Joe Wright Directs “Princess & Peppernose” Short Shot Entirely On Samsung Galaxy Device Via RSA
Client Samsung Production RSA Films, bicoastal/international, and Kneehigh Theatre, Cornwell, U.K. Joe Wright, director; Seamus McGarvey, DP; Mike Shepherd, associate director; Carl Grose, script writer; Caspar Delaney, producer; Stuart Butterworth, production manager; Becky Bishop, production coordinator; Algy Sloane, location manager; Liz West, script supervisor; Danny McGrath, 1st assistant director; Sarah Greenwood, production designer; Katie Spencer, set decorator; Jacqueline Durran, costume designer; Sian Miller, makeup artist; James Collins, art director (build only); Catherine Morgan, props maker; Lloyd Vincent, Nick Turnbull, prop master; Danny Edwards, SFX. (Toolbox: stop motion) Editorial Tomasso Gallone, editor. Music Ian Ross, composer & instrumentalist; Mark Aspinall, musical director; John Warhurst, music editor. Cast Princess: Anjana Vasan, Mirequag: Beverly Rudd, King: Paul Hunter, Jeremy: Mike Shepherd. Puppeteers: Sarah Wright, Liz Walker, Nix Wood. Chorus #1-6: Giles King, Syla Goodey, Katy Owen, Scott Folan, Nandi Bhebhe, Omari Douglas.
3: Top Spot of the Week: Chick-fil-A, McCann, Psyop Take Us To “The Whoopsery” Bakery For Imaginative Xmas Treats
Client Chick-fil-A Agency McCann Sean Bryan, Tom Murphy, co-chief creative officers, North America. Larry Platt, Danny Rodriguez, EVPs, executive creative directors, NY; Sherrod Melvin, Thomas Weingard, Jason McKean, group creative directors, NY; David Mashburn, executive design director, NY; Jesse Yowell, Dan Colburn, associate creative directors, NY; Ethan Buller, design, director, NY; Luzdivina Ruiz, sr. art director; Josh Race, sr. copywriter; Ralph Vibar, art director; Kathy Love, SVP, executive integrated producer; Eric Johnson, SVP, executive music producer, integrated production; Julianna Katrancha, SVP, global strategy director; Justin Luk, Amanda Shaprio, VP, strategy director. Production Psyop, bicoastal Marie Hyon, director; Eve Strickman, exec producer; Andrew Rindlaub, producer; Claire Funderburk, assistant producer; Raven Burnett, writer; Vicorior Intrasombat, Winnie Mai, Misha Oplev, Andrew Park, Laura Yan, designers; Ben Chan, storyboard artist; Briana Franceschini, lead technical director; Ryan Moran, Pt Porter, Michael Sime, previs artists; Kwan Au, Winnie Mai, David Soto, modelers; Kwan Au, Matthias Bauerie, Sarah Bocket, Briana Franceschini, Anne Yang, lighters; & dev artists;Ieva Sauciunaite, lighter; James Atkinson, Steve Hallquist, VFX artists; Pat Porter, lead 3D animator; Sam Crees, Nayoun Kim, Ryan Moran, Michael Sime, Anthony Travieso, Matt Williamson, 3D animators; Zed Bennett, lead rigger, Zeth Willie, rigger; Zed Bennett, Fred Qiao, John Block, technical animation/hair & cloth simulation; Matthias Bauerle, 2D lead; Aaron Baker, Carl Mok, Herculano Fernandes, Manu Gaulot, Sarah Yoo, compositors; Loren Christiansen, editor; Keigo Tanaka, assistant editor. (Toolbox: Maya, Arnold, Zbrush, Yeti, Substance Painter, Photoshop, Nuke, Premiere, Houdini) Sound Design & Audio Post Decibel, New York Tom Goldblatt, sound designer & engineer; Alicia Rodgers, exec producer. Music Squeak E. Clean Studios, bicoastal/international Jesse Watt, composer; Zac Colwell, creative director; Kit Winter, exec producer; Nick Doering, Nick Keenan, Karla Henwood producers.
4: Director Isaiah Seret, 215 McCann Tell “Unspoken” Tale For Halo Infinite Video Game
Client Microsoft/Halo Infinite Agency 215 McCann Scott Duchon, chief creative officer; Brad Meyers, creative director; Alper Kologlu, associate creative director/art director; Andy Holdeman, associate creative director/copywriter; Mandi Holdorf, director of integrated production; Nina Ulbrich, sr. producer; Brian Wakabayashi, Sam Chotiner, directors of strategy; Cassidy Wilber, Ryan Riley, strategy directors; Beth Windheuser, Christian Stewart, sr. strategists. Production Biscuit Filmworks Isaiah Seret, director; Shawn Lacy, partner/managing director; Andrew Travelstead, exec producer; Jeff McDougall, producer; Rachel Glaub, Sean Moody, heads of production; Steve Annis, DP; Fiona Crombie, production manager. Editorial Work Editorial Biff Butler, editor; Gladys Bernadac, assistant editor; Brandee Probasco, head of production; Marlo Baird, exec producer. Telecine Company 3 Tom Poole, colorist; Alexandra Lubrano, producer. VFX Method Studios, Santa Monica, Calif. Scott Boyajan, Michelle Machado, exec producers; Scott Tinter, Persis Reynolds, producers; Doug Luka, VFX supervisor; Remy Normand, CG supervisor; Marc Rice, comp supervisor; Ian Holland, Flame lead; Patrick Heumann, animation supervisor; Daniel Alvite, animation lead; Mert Yamak, lighting supervisor; Lyubomir Kirkov, FX supervisor; Jeevith Suryakanth, matchmove lead; Lilas Wang, layout lead; Peter Dominik, environment lead; Gottfried Eder, DMP lead; Theodor Groeneboom, visual artist; Toros Kose, graphics. (Toolbox: Flame, Nuke, After Effects) Music Human, bicoastal Music by Human; Kamela Anderson, head of sync and A&R; Carol Dunn, exec producer; Gareth Williams, creative director; John Christopher Barnes, composer. Sound Design & Mix Lime Studios, Santa Monica, Calif. Jeff Malen, sound design & mix; Meg Ochs, audio assistant; Susie Boyajan, exec producer
5: Droga5 NY, Directorial Trio Sportscar “Take A Seat” For Hennessy V.S.O.P.
Client Hennessy V.S.O.P. Agency Droga5 NY Tim Gordon, Felix Richter, co-chief creative officers; Alexander Nowak, global head of art; Marco Howell, group creative director; Haywood Watkins III, creative director; Mia Rafowitz, copywriter; Cara Cecchini, art director; Albie Eloy, associate design director; Olivia Piazza, designer; Ruben Mercadal, associate director of film production; Roger Moran, sr. producer, film; Hugh Copeland, associate producer, film; Mike Ladman, sr. music supervisor; Brad Nayman, Angela Asistio, music supervisors; Harry Roman-Torres, chief brand strategy officer; Drew Simel, strategy director; Justin Clagette, intercultural context director. Production Company Florence Sportscar, director; Logan Triplett, DP; Jarad Anderson, founder/exec producer; Matt Griffo, exec producer; Sophie Brooks, producer; Brielle Hubert, production designer. Casting Tiffany Casting Editorial Cut+Run Jonnie Scarlett, editor; Chrissy Doughty, assistant editor; Marcia Wigley, head of production. Postproduction The Mill New York Mandy Harris, exec producer; Tanya Ferguson, sr. producer; Chanelle Larios, producer; Antoine Douadi, Keith Sullivan, VFX supervisors/2D lead compositors; Dhruv Shankar, 2D compositor; Nasser Mandavi, Jiin You, Katelyn Veneman, 2D compositors/2D assists; Nick Metcalf, colorist; Arsen Arzumanyan, previz; Eva Kuehlmann, CG lead; Charles Lee, DMP; Andre Vidal Vi Nguyen, finish. (Toolbox: Nuke, Maya) Music Ear Candy “A Kid Named Turbo,” soundtrack. Sound Wave Studios Aaron Reynolds, Chris Afzal, Isaac Matus, sound designers/mixers; Vicky Ferraro, exec producer; Eleni Giannopoulos, producer.
6: Director Gary Freedman, Absolute, Karmarama Warp Time For Lidl’s Xmas Spot
Client Lidl Agency Karmarama, London Nik Studzinski, chief creative officer Luke Ramm, Joe Holt, creative directors; Fiona Moseley, Louisa Whitehead, creative team; David White, TV producer; Amie Nedwell, production assistant. Production Independent Films, London Gary Freedman, director; Ciska Faulkner, producer; John Lynch, DP; Cat Meredydd, production manager; Katie Giovanni, food stylist; Cynthia Lawrence-John, costume designer. Casting Hammond Cox Casting Thom Hammond, casting director. Editorial The Assembly Rooms Adam Spivey, editor; Daniel Breheny, head of production; Liz Trnovsky, producer. Color Grade Company 3 London Jean-Clement Soret, Steffan Perry, colorists; Ellora Soret, color EP; Chris Anthony, color producer; Dominic Phipps, assistant colorist; Adam Stanndard, data lab supervisor. VFX/Post Absolute, London Jonas McQuiggin, Phil Oldham, creative directors; Chris Tobin, 2D lead; Harvey David, Lucas Warren, Tom Clapp, Nuke artists; Keith Rogers, Matt Burn, CG supervisors; Craig Healy, FX artist; Ollie Grant, Dan Baiton, Huggy Stephens, Sean Elliot, CG artists; Pedro De la Puente, concept artist; Luke Barker, graphics; Thomas Higgins, Tom Boucher, editorial; Ran Manolov, CG character design; Sally Heath, exec producer; Kirsty Ratcliffe, sr. producer; Maddie Godsill, production assistant.
(Toolbox: Maya, Houdini, Nuke, Flame, Adobe Photoshop, Substance Painter, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve) Sound Wave Studios Tony Rapaccioli, engineer; Rebecca Boswell, producer. Music Supervision Major Tom
7: Framestore Brings Dinosaur To United Nations To Address Climate Change, Avoid Extinction
Client United Nations Development Program Agency Activista, Los Angeles Paco Conde, Beto Fernandez, executive creative directors; Jon Carlaw, director of strategy; David Litt, writer. Production Framestore Pictures, bicoastal & London Murray Butler, director; Jennifer Siegel, managing director; Anne Vega, head of production; Laura Morris, line producer; Wyatt Garfield, DP. VFX Framestore, bicoastal & London Carla Attanasio, director of production; Pete King, exec producer; Chris Harlowe, sr. producer; Jose Alvarado, associate producer; Marco Marenghi, creative director; Karch Coon, VFX supervisor; Richard Shallcross, lighting supervisor; Woei Lee, head of 2D; Mark Casey, compositor lead; Kevin Rooney, Taylor Hodgson-Scott, Edwin Schaap, animators; Craig Tozzi, Kun Hang Wu, Raul Ortego, compositors; Jessica Groom, Kaho Horiuchi, George Saavedra, Marco Amador, Soren Barton, Andrew Thompson, CG artists; Oscar Tan, modeler; Todd Herman, tracking supervisor; Jacob Sadowsky, editorial supervisor; Dustin Indrebo, VFX editor; Beau Leon, colorist; Evan Reinhard, color assistant; Jamie Runkle, color producer. (Toolbox:Maya, Zbrush, Mari, Nuke, Shotgun, Arnold) Editorial Cut+Run Jon Grover, editor; Eytan Gutman, editorial producer; Evan Bahnsen, assistant editor. Audio String and Tins Jim Stewart, sound design & mix; Joe Wilkinson, additional sound design. Foley The Foley Barn Olivia Endersby, audio producer. Music Coordinator COOL Music Music by Rachel Portman; Luke Richards, music programmer.
8: RPA Teams With Director Paul Mitchell, a52 To Tell “Origin” Story For Honda
Client American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Agency RPA Joe Baratelli, EVP, chief creative officer; Ken Pappanduros, VP/group creative director; Sarah May Bates, VP/creative director; Matthew Pullen, associate creative director/art director; Gary Paticoff, EVP/chief production officer; Selena Pizarro, SVP, director, video production; Ryan Radley, sr. producer; Will Conover, video production coordinator. Live Action Production Spoon Films (El Mirage) Tobia Sempi, DP; Maureen Tunney, line producer; David Wolfson, exec producer. Gatehouse Films (Namibia) Rory O’Grady, DP; Karin Tanchel, exec producer/line producer; Laila Shrand, unit production manager. Design Elastic Paul Mitchell, creative director/director; Kaya Thomas, Min Shi Haram Jung, designers; Vince Wei, storyboard artist. VFX a52, Santa Monica, Calif. Andy McKenna, VFX supervisor; Kirk Shintani, CG supervisor; Steve Wolff, lead Flame artist; Adam Flynn, Michael Vaglienty, Rod Basham, Andres Barrios, Stefan Gaillot, compositors; Kevin Stokes, Ujala Saini, John Valle, Chris Riley, Flame artists; Andy Wilkoff, Aemilia Widodo, Alvaro Segura, Bryan Cox, Chris Clyne, Derek Friesenborg, Dustin Mellum, Jade Smrz, Jerry Weil, Joao Rosa, Joe Chiechi, Joe Paniagua, Joey Bettinardi, José Limon, Josh Dyer, Jun Kim, Michael Bettinardi, Miguel A Salek, Mike Oakley, Ryan Chong, Samir Lyons, Scott Nishiki, Tim Kadowaki, Weiyo Sha, Ziyan Zhang, Phiphat Pinysophon, 3D artists; Whitman Lindstrom, digital matte painter; James Howell, producer; Shane Hoffman, production coordinator; Stacy Kessler-Aungst, head of production; Michael Steinmann, head of CG production; Patrick Nugent, Kim Christensen, exec producers; Jennifer Sofio Hall, managing director. (Toolbox: Maya, Houdini, 3DS Max, Vray, Flame, Terragen, Terragen Sky (Unreleased Beta), PF Track, Substance Painter, Deadline) 3D Image Scanning Scanable (U.S.), Black Ginger (Namibia). Color Primary Greg Reese, colorist; Corey Martinez, color assistant; Jenny Bright, color producer; Thatcher Peterson, exec producer. Editorial Elastic Doron Dor, Pascal Leister, editors; Emily Morgan, assistant editor; James Howell, producer. Audio Lime Studios Dave Wagg, audio mixer/sound designer; Susie Boyajan, exec producer. Music Supervision Good Ear Music Supervision Andrew Kahn, Marielle Jade Te, music supervisors.
9: Top Spot of the Week: adam&eveDDB, Director Mark Molloy Form A Yuletide Friendship With An “Unexpected Guest” For John Lewis
Client John Lewis & Partners Agency adam&eveDDB, London Richard Brim, chief creative officer; Matt Gay, Feargal Ballance, creative directors/copywriters/art directors; Patrick McClelland, copywriter; Sally Pritchett, executive producer; Clio McLeary, integrated producer; Claire Peacock, assistant producer; Ben Sharpe, head of integrated production; Martin Beverley, chief strategy officer. Production SMUGGLER Mark Molloy, director; Ewen Brown, producer; Marketa Husecka, production manager; Greig Fraser, DP; Nathan Parker, production designer; Rosa Dias, costume designer; Michele Baylis, hair & makeup artist; Ali Fearnley, casting. Editorial Work Editorial Stewart Reeves, editor; Rain Keene, edit assistant; Ellie McNaughtan, editing producer. Postproduction/VFX nineteentwenty, London Bill McNamara, VFX supervisor; Ludo Fealy, 2D VFX supervisor; Ben Thomas, CG VFX supervisor; Jamie Stitson,Adam McHale, Humayun Mirza, Nicole Palucsis, Jessica Hayes, David Ince, Joseph Dymond, Chrys Aldred, Matt Hutchins, 2D artists; Ivan Tomovic, Andrew Maccabe,Alison Stott, James White, Guido Pagotto, Mike Farrar, David Rencsenyi, 3D artists; Emilis Baltrusaitis, Aurelien Ronceray, DMP & environment artists; Anthony Scott, motion graphics; Jake Lunt Davies, Nathan McKenna, concept; KaiVan Beers, colorist; Elliott Ward, color assist; David Keegan, VFX producer. (Toolbox: Maya, Nuke, Nuke Studio, Houdini, Baselight) Capture Surveying, Pudsey, U.K. Philip Anderton, LiDAR scans Music Supervision Leland Music (Abi Leland, Ed Bailie, Toby Williams). Music Track: “Together In Electric Dreams. Philip Oakey, Giorgio Moroder, composers; Lola Young, artist; David Kosten, music producer. Master: Universal Music Group/Island Records. Publishers: BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited (50%) /Warner Chappell North America Limited (50%)
10: The Best Work You May Never See: Sid Lee, Mathematic Hoist “The Trophy” For Heartwarming IGA Holiday Film
Client IGA Agency Sid Lee, Montreal Alex Bernier, executive creative director; Miriam Rondeau, Mathieu Bouillon, Julie Desrochers, Pascal Gagnon, Kristina Campbell, Andréane Voyer, Sarah Lemire, creative team; Joannie Tellier, Magali Loiselle, Marie-Christine Toupin, Carolyne Goyette, production; Pauline Rosen, Gonzague Mulot, strategy. 3D Production Mathematic, Paris & Montreal Bertrand Bey, Marie-Julie Dallaire, realization; Alexandre Pagot, Guillaume Audibet, production; Jérémy Dumetre, production director; Mathieu Taggart, production manager; Martin Trepeau, CG supervisor. (Toolbox: Maya, Houdini, Photoshop, Substance Painter) Music & Sound Circonflex, Paris & Montreal Maxime Barzel, Olivier Girard, Paul-Étienne Côté, music; Perre-Hughes Rondeau, sound design; Dominic Cabana, mix