The 44th Annual Clio Awards were announced on May 21, 2003 in Miami, Florida. Anonymous Content and Digital Domain took home two Gold Awards for their Adidas "Mechanical Legs" spot. Clio is the world's largest and most famous advertising awards competition in the international advertising and business communities. This year's TV jury was chaired by Bob Scarpelli, U.S. cco for DDB.
Culver City, California-based Anonymous Content and Venice, California-based Digital Domain took home the Golden Award for Best Animated-Computer Commercial and Best Visual Effects for their work on the Adidas "Mechanical Legs" spot which was commissioned by agency TBWAChiatDay. David Fincher served as the director along with animators Aram Granger, Greg Teegarden, Kevin Quattro and Ron Herbst. VFX supervisor was Eric Barba and Bernd Angerer served as the animation supervisor.
The silver award for Animated-Computer Commercial went to the Coca-Cola spot entitled "Supersub," which was commissioned by agency Wieden + Kennedy of Amsterdam, produced by Paris-based Partizan Midi Minuit and animated by Paris-based Numero 6. David and Laurent Nicholas directed the spot with Alex & Martin credited as animators. The other Silver award winner was agency Pure D'Arcy's Whiskas "Bungee" ad, which was produced by Film Graphics. Phil Meatchern served as director. Moore Park, Australia-based Animal Logic handled the visual effects with 3D VFX supervision performed by Luke Hetherington. The animators on the project were Michael Mellor, Nathan Stone, Will Reichelt, Al Ferguson and Paul Braddock. Animal Logic also has an office in Los Angeles.
Two bronze awards for Animated-Computer Commercial were awarded to SCI FI Channel's "Tattoo Man" ad, which was produced by London-based Godman and animated by London's Smoke & Mirrors. The spot was directed by Vaughan Arnell and animated by Sean Broughton and Tony Lawrence. The second bronze statue went to the BT Broadband spot, "Burst Pipe," which was conceived by ad agency, St. Luke's of London. Hammer & Tongs produced the ad with The Mill taking on animation duties. The director was Garth Jennings and the 3D artists were Russel Tickner, Andi Farhall, Ben Smith, Andrew Proctor, Michael Grobe, Jake Mengers, Sam Renfry, Russel Appleford, Thomas Pastor, Satoko Iinuma, Rob van den Bragt, Porl Perrott and Nick Lloyd.
There was only one silver winner in the Animation-Film category and it went to February Communications' "Cartoon" from Saatchi & Saatchi of London, Gorgeous Enterprises produced the spot. Passion Pictures animated the commercial with Frank Budgen directing and Russell Brooke and Hugo Sands animating.
Another Adidas spot took home the Silver prize for Best Visual Effects. "Slugs" from advertising agency San Francisco ad agencies 180 and TBWAChiatDay, was produced by Gorgeous Enterprises out of London with Los Angeles-based A52 handling the animation. Frank Budgen directed the spot with Denis Gauthier, Jeff Willette and Craig Halperin serving as animators. Simon Brewster served as a VFX supervisor on the commercial.
A52's on-set FX supervisor Darcy Leslie Parsons said, "Winning this award is a phenomenal achievement for A52 mainly because our artists are so talented at creating photoreal CGI and making visual effects integrate so seamlessly with live-action photography that most people just see the finished product and don't realize we've worked our magic."
Three spots took home the bronze visual effects prize. First was PBS' "Fish" from Minneapolis agency Fallon. Los Angeles-based Independent Media produced the spot with The Mill handling the animation in London. Alfonso Cuaron, helmer of the next HARRY POTTER flick, directed the ad. The second winner was Pepsi's "Elephant Tower" from Paris' CLM/BBDO. The production company on the spot was London's @radical.media. THE CELL-director Tarsem helmed the spot with Tom Sparks creating the FX. The third prize holder was Gatorade's "Drip" from Chicago's Element 79 Partners. Hollywood-based Partizan produced the spot with Michel Gondry serving as director. Buf is credited with the special effects work.
Starting in 1959, Clio recognizes advertising excellence worldwide in the areas of TV, Print, Outdoor, Radio, Integrated Media, Innovative Media, Internet, Design and Student work around the world. Accompanying this year's event was a four-day festival. For a complete list of Clio winners visit www.clioawards.com/html/main.isx?sub=106&presssearch=31.
