The latest in-house CG short from Rimantas Lukavicius and his Korb studio, Void of Substance, presents an enigmatic and meticulously rendered meditation on the power of AI – without the use of AI for any of the imagery. Rimantas Lukavicius: “In a future world where artificial intelligence has advanced to unprecedented levels, a sophisticated AI system is tasked with finding the optimal outcome for a complex prompt. “Crafting a CGI short film featuring organic matter in a white gallery space posed both technical and creative challenges, particularly in terms of storytelling. Technically, we ne ..read more

Evoking a fully array of tastes and textures, Tavo Ponce and the motion team at TAVO Studio just dropped us the director’s cut of a new full-CG spot for a limited edition Grand Cru beer from Belgian brewer Tripel Karmeliet. Tavo Ponce: “Working through Artbox Amsterdam and the agency The Valley, we crafted the launch of the highly anticipated Karmeliet Grand Cru. This animation and atmosphere creation project invites the viewer to immerse themselves in a world of sensations, exploring the unique flavor and aroma of this exclusive beer. “Our team took on the challenge of transporting viewers i ..read more

Writer/director/illustrator Danny Sangra takes a poke at the creative industrial complex (and makes his Stash debut) with this snappy two-minute animated parable about selling out and selling yourself short. Danny Sangra: “The concept was one I knew everyone in the commercial world could understand. I think we get too wrapped up in the industry side of things and forget we can all be creative and have fun with it. Whenever I do talks or speak to students, I remind them to never forget why they started to draw or make things. It’s free and it’s expressive, you were exploring and it made you ha ..read more

From the release: Forever is happy to announce that Builders Club is joining its collective, alongside founding partners FutureDeluxe and Tendril to continue the evolution of the Forever group. In an era where mergers often lead to the dilution of brand identity and a decline in quality, Forever presents a pioneering model that not only preserves but enhances the distinctiveness of its collective studios. Each studio brings its own unique blend of innovation, style, and methodology, allowing clients to tackle their diverse challenges with an equally diverse set of solutions. Builders Club, a ..read more

Leveraging an array of motion techniques, CD Will Johnson and the Scholar crew unleash their inner characters in this in-house short film “enhancing behavioral type in literal and metaphorically kinetic ways”. Will Johnson: “With project timelines shrinking and viewing mediums shifting, we wanted to create a type project that was fast paced and super scroll-stopping. Embracing the chameleon-like personalities at Scholar, we set out to challenge the norm of type and messaging. “It’s about the vibe as much as the technical challenge of stitching each different moment into a cohesive collection ..read more

From the release: Passion Pictures today announces the signing of Tulips and Chimneys to its roster of directors for worldwide commercial representation alongside development of animated feature film ‘Biophonica’. Tulips and Chimneys is led by Ree Treweek and Nina Pfeiffer in Cape Town, South Africa. Creating across multiple mediums and techniques including miniature sets, 2D and 3D animation, their work is characterized by extraordinarily imaginative world-building. Tulips and Chimneys have directed work for Hendrick’s Gin, Unilever and Riot Games amongst others. The studio join Passion Pict ..read more

The vibrant austerity and of the Haller furniture system, a mid-century classic manufactured by Swiss brand USM, receives an appropriately elegant and minimal treatment in this brand film by the team at FRAME in Copenhagen. Thomas Bay, co-founder at FRAME: “USM tasked us with showcasing their signature furniture system, focusing on three key elements: the corner ball joint, which was to appear as if by magic; the assembly process; and the system’s seemingly endless configurations. “The film takes the viewer on a journey from the birth of the bronze sphere, through to its chrome coating and fi ..read more

Paris prodco Jungler teams with director Will Studd and the stop-motion mavens at Aardman to frame up a slap-stick proxy burger battle for McDonald’s in France thru agency TBWA. Sebastien Pribile, EP at Jungler: “The film celebrates the return of two characters, McFarmer and McRancher, who are fighting over the screen. This epic match has the most rock and roll grandma of all time as a referee. A wacky and dynamic battle with an unknown ending: Who will be the best? “We were very excited to work on this production with Aardman, their expertise in stop-motion gives them the ability to face eve ..read more

Executive creative director Ant Baena leads the FutureDeluxe team in stirring up a whirlwind of contrast for heritage US footwear brand Red Wing Shoes to demonstrate “lightweight comfort and rugged durability can seamlessly coexist.” From the team at FutureDeluxe: “Through extensive research and experimentation, we were able to craft moments capturing the fusion of opposing materials to produce a new form factor symbolizing the duality of the new TruGuard Lite work boots. “The film commences by introducing the various objects and materials, followed by simulating moments of collision that rep ..read more

In their latest in-house animated short film, director/designer Eric Edwards and Seattle prodco The New Blank drop a mischievous two-minute jab at the shortcomings of AI and the “commoditization of ideas and creativity”. Eric Edwards, director/designer at The New Blank: “In a world where AI is getting better every day, ‘The Imagination Lab’ shows that there are no shortcuts to good ideas. It’s a reminder of the power of traditional animation and the importance of appreciating the creative process in the face of advancing technology. “While AI animation tools like Sora are constantly improving ..read more