XYZ Studios and Charlex previously partnered with BBDO/NY to create a fully CG spot for Dodge called "Journey".
Press Release from Charlex
XYZ Studios and Charlex previously partnered with BBDO/NY to create a fully CG spot for Dodge called "Journey". The results exceeded the expectations of all parties involved. The two companies have come together once again to collaborate on an even more ambitious project.
The spot is "Homecoming," for Ribena, a popular Australian juice product made from black currants. Again, the parties proved that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Ribena has been doing TVC's for nearly 50 years. The brief from Grey Advertising and their client GlaxoSmithKline was to bring their well-established 2D characters into the 21st century.
"There were many challenges in the spot," said XYZ director Tim Kentley. "We had an entire family of distinct characters, intricate landscapes, a highly detailed mother tree, fluid simulations and atmospheric lighting. On top of this, we really had to ensure the story and performance was right."
Tim worked with XYZ Senior Art Director Auver Cedric Austria to develop the character design, story and landscapes. The rest was executed by Charlex, who wrangled the entire production including modeling, animation, lighting and compositing.
"XYZ does more than just direct a 'TVC'," continues Kentley. "What we end up doing is creating a new visual landscape for a client and their product. This is then integrated into motion, print, on-line and across all touch points. It's a really rewarding level to work at and one that, with Charlex, will only become more powerful."
Charlex ECD, Alex Weil, agrees. "It was nice to take the techniques we explored during our in-house project ShapeShifter and apply them to an entirely different esthetic. ShapeShifter was dark and moody, Tim's vision for "Homecoming" was a colorful, light-hearted, natural but stylized world, bathed in warm light. To say that we're enthusiastic about our partnership with XYZ is an understatement."
XYZ Studios now shares office space in Charlex's New York studio.
Credits:Client: RibenaSpot Title: HomecomingAir Date: February 2011
Agency: Grey Advertising, MelbourneExecutive Creative Director: Ant ShannonProducer: Jess SmithBusiness Director: Claire Marring
Production/Post: XYZ StudiosDirector: Tim KentleyExecutive Producer: Hamish Macdonald
Production/Post Co.: CharlexCG Supervisor: Keith McCabeSenior Producer: Corey BudroCreative Director: Dade OrgeronDesigner/Art Director: Jodi TerwilligerLead Matte Painter: Jungeun KimLead Modeling TD: Alex CheparevLead Character TD: Steve MannAnimation Director: Anthony Tabtong, Adam BurkeLighting Director: James FisherLead Lighter: Salar SalehExecutive Producer for Charlex: Meredith MachialExecutive Creative Director for Charlex: Alex Weil
Matte Painting: Amy PaskowEffects: Jonathan NixonModeling: Hung Kit Ma, Han-Chin LeeModeling/Texture: Maria TsaneuaCharacter TD: Andre StuppertAnimation: Cesar Kuriyama, John Karian, Anthony Travieso, Carmine Laietta, Jaime Casteneda, John WilsonLighting: Cesar Kuriyama, Frank Grecco, John Volny, Keith McMenamy, Thomas Smith, Will Atkin, Jina LeeEditor: John ZawishaAssistant Producer: Ben Famiglietti
Music House: Nylon Studios
About Charlex:Charlex is a full-service creative studio based in New York City. We specialize in visual effects, animation, design and live-action. We've thrown fancy mission statements out the window and simply embrace versatility. Our motto is design and build. We can take any seed of an idea and bring it to life.
Making great work is the product of forging great relationships. Our team prides itself on fast, efficient work at the highest level of excellence. Our reputation is founded on a commitment to creating compelling imagery, regardless of the assignment. We are experts at building a seamless experience from concept to completion, from client brief to end result.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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