.Nike - Airport'98

This was one of the commercials made for the FIFA World Cup 1998 I think.. Impressive camera work!

Blog Entry #10: stop motion white board video

Yet another hand-drawn stop motion animation.. But perspective is involved in this one, which makes it pretty interesting.

What I really like about this stop motion is:
- The transformation from a circle to a CD, followed by the iPod click wheel.
- Going through a small tunnel towards a country side landscape.

Also, note that there are multiple scenes in this animation, unlike most hand-drawn stop motion animations, which usually only contain one scene.

Blog Entry #9: Embrace Life - Always wear your seat belt

A campaign in the United Kingdom that emphasizes the use of seat belts when driving.

Unlike most safety campaigns, which usually runs very quickly and hence, doesn't leave much impression, this one uses slow motion, which allows us, as audiences, to see the emotions involved in the scene.

The final bit of this video clip seem to portray the natural instincts family members have with each other - that they would always try to protect each other from harm no matter what happens.

Blog Entry #8: The Known Universe by AMNH

Initially, one may portray this as another [boring] documentary about our universe. I actually became more curious about the planets and infinite amount of galaxies around us. Once, my other half and I commented that there might be school kids out from another galaxy who is studying us, humans from Earth, for their science project or something.

Anyways, this is just a basic video of what goes on outside Earth, followed by the galaxy we live in. I felt a little light-headed towards the end of this video, because it really felt like I was floating away from Earth, towards our galaxy, followed by "the known" universe.

I reckon this video will not be as effective as it is, if it wasn't for the background "atmospheric" type of music.. And this would definitely look great on a 50" High Definition screen!

Blog Entry #7: chicken tennis

One word – hilarious.
This is a telecommunication commercial made for Vodafone in the United Kingdom. I'm actually still getting a good laugh over this 30-second animation despite watching this multiple times (over and over) again over the past year.

There can be enough emphasize in the importance of music and sound effects in motion graphics. For example, the laughter - it is just so.. infectious.

Another factor that made this such a funny commercial might be the combination of animals and technology - something that can never be seen in real life. Unusual scenes are pretty funny most of the time.. Don't you agree? :)

Blog Entry 6: Stop-Motion Drawing

"If only reality was like this for everyone sometimes.." I thought to myself as I watch the animation unfold. Hand drawn stop-motion animations are definitely much more challenging and time-consuming than other animating methods available.. And the process of using this method to convey something must have been painful.

I was engrossed in the animation, even though the context is a representation of daily life in general, and that it is hand-drawn in black and white.

So there we go, this proves my belief that "less is more". :)

Blog Entry #5: TOKIDOKI

Tokidoki (translates to "sometimes" in Japanese) happens to be one of my favorite illustrations, and I was stoked to actually find some motion graphics of Tokidoki up on Youtube!

Anyways, the first thing that caught my attention is the combination of 2-dimension and 3-dimension. In this case, 2D characters/objects are being used in a 3D environment. Very innovative use of camera angle, it really feels as though we are following Adios (the Grim Reaper) from the back. The soundtrack behind this motion graphics totally reminds me of a game environment, which goes really well with this animation since it actually looks as though Adios is running in a game scene.

Tokidoki illustrations will always be one of the works of art that inspires me.

Blog Entry #4: オオカミとブタ。Stop motion with wolf and pig.

"A 3-dimensional stop motion animation using 2-dimensional mediums."

I haven't actually come across a complex stop motion animation like this one until yesterday, when my other half gave me the link to this video on youtube.

I seriously can't imagine the amount of time spent making this animation, from taking tens or hundreds of thousands of photographs and putting them together on the computer.

The whole animation runs across the entire apartment (from bedroom all the way through the bathroom and living area) – a good representation of "connection with the world of the room and the world in the photograph".

Creative imagination is possible too even if one only has a small area of space to work with. : 3

Blog Entry #3: Fumiko's Confession

Yet another 2D animation that left a great impression. What caught my attention is the use of dynamic perspective for the most part of this animation and not the title, which [initially] suggested romance.

This is possibly the first (or only) 2D motion graphics that actually made me feel like I'm watching this from one of those 4D movie theaters.

Blog Entry #2: Top Gear UK show opening

Top Gear UK is not only famous for being the best car show globally – they also have one of the best filming techniques around.

The opening sequence combines a bunch of movie clips with some vector art work (i.e. the silhouette figures of the three hosts of the show, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond). The end result of this combination is pretty dynamic. Oh, and not to mention, Top Gear uses a variety of filters (I think those are Cokin filters) to achieve the contrast in color in their video clips, which also contributes to the success of this opening sequence.

Also, note the variety of unusual angles that they use while filming – very innovative! Perhaps this is the main reason why I watch the show. :)

HD version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmRawGPwj8g&hd=1

Blog Entry #1 Louis Vuitton "Superflat Monogram" - Takashi Murakami

...Possibly one of few that I will remember. I was introduced to this motion graphic 3 years ago in one of my 2nd year classes at RMIT Uni.

The brand Louis Vuitton is generally perceived as a "classy", monotone product. Murakami has changed my perception of LV in this particular clip.. I reckon this is quite an unexpected yet fascinating way to promote LV.

Murakami has done a great job in adding a palette of vibrant colors into LV's trademark monogram design, thus making the multicolore series more lively and interesting to look at.