Gatorade "Defining Mia" / A52

A sequence of animated CGI X-rays shows Gatorade Ice at work inside U.S. soccer star Mia Hamm. Directed by Phil Joanou through Villains, the spot relied on LA's A52 and visual effects supervisor Simon Brewster to create the 3D skeleton shots and handle extensive crowd and stadium replacement. Credits for Element 79 Partners include: Dennis Ryan, creative director; Canice Neary, copywriter; Doug Behm, executive art director; Jeff Felter, executive producer; Jeff Drooger, producer.

Webfiles:
A52> http://www.a52.com

Target "New Home" / Renegade

Burbank's Renegade Animation produced a :30 for Target, Nickelodeon and The Martin Agency (Richmond, Virginia) starring Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants. "New Home," casts SpongeBob as the newest employee of an underwater Target store to promote his branded merchandise. Darrell Van Citters directed the spot for Renegade Animation with Ashley Postlewaite, executive producer and Nate Pacheco, technical director. For The Martin Agency: Joe Alexander, creative director; Jenny Kennedy, producer; Anne Marie Hite, copywriter; Claiborne Riley, art director.

Webfiles:
Renegade> http://www.renegadeanimation.com

Gatorade "Fire and Ice" / TOPIX

TOPIX recently set fire to a hockey player for Gatorade Ice and Toronto agency Downtown Partners. Fortunately for the skater, effects supervisor and inferno artist Patrick Coffey and director Branson Veal from PURE Films (Toronto) shot plates of flames at matching angles then tracked them to his body, limbs and skates. The spot features Montreal Canadiens' goal tender José Theodore fighting off the fiery player. For TOPIX: Dominik Bochenski, inferno artist; Cheyenne Bloomfield, Producer. For Downtown Partners: Dan Pawych, creative director; Joe O'Neill, copywriter. For School Editing: Griff Henderson, Editor.

Webfiles:
Topix> http://www.topix.com

George Michael "Freeek!"/ Hatch

Acclaimed matte painter Deak Ferrand projected his work for George Michael's infamous (banned on MTV) "Freeek!" video onto a 3D CGI environment to accommodate the perspective changes required in the opening scene. Ferrand worked with VFX supervisor Eric Durst and director Joseph Khan who gave Ferrand carte blanche. Palomar/Supermega was the production company with Greg Tharp, producer and Stephen Platt production designer. Final Cut London's David Webb edited, The Syndicate/Computer Cafe, Santa Monica created the visual effects, and 13 Hands, LA, handled compositing.

Webfiles:
Hatch> http://www.hatchfx.com
Final Cut> http://www.finalcut-edit.com
13 Hands> http://www.13hands.net
Palomar Pictures> http://www.palomarpics.com

"Washed Up" / Vinton Studios

Vinton Studios goes to San Antonio with "Washed Up," a CGI short created to open the Siggraph Animation Theatre. Vinton director Kyle Bell's team used Maya, Deep Paint, Shake, flame and proprietary software to tell the two-minute tale of a would-be attendee stranded on an island. It was initially an in-house project started by visual FX supervisor Dan Casey and supervising director Mark Gustafson.

Webfiles:
Vinton Studios> http://www.vinton.com

Puma "Shudoh" / Red Rover

International star footballers strut their moves in this retro/animé Puma spot from Toronto's Red Rover and Gyro Advertising, Philadelphia. Andy Knight directed, Larissa Ulisko designed, Randi Yaffa produced, Linzi Knight art directed, Scott Buscis edited and Christina Helmer line produced.

Webfiles:
Red Rover> http://www.redrover.net

Spiderman "Hero"/ Strange Engine

Santa Monica's Strange Engine animated a CGI New York for "Hero" from the Spiderman soundtrack. Bruce Branit and Jeremy Hunt, principal artists and on-set supervisors, also did match moves to integrate the digital city and rooftop set with director Nigel Dick's camera. A Band Apart produced; At the Post's Mark Robben compostited.

Webfiles:
Strange Engine> http://www.strange-engine.com
At the Post> http://www.atthepost.net
A Band Apart> http://www.abandapart.com

Ed Case "Good Times" / Foreign Office

The promo for Ed Case's "Good Times" was created by The Foreign Office (formerly known as 4K) in less than six weeks in the offices of London's Skunk. Created mainly in After Effects and Photoshop, with a few added elements from Flash, SoftImage and Final Cut, "Good Times" shows a slinky animated and headphone sporting honey on the move through a futuristic cityscape. Sony's commissioner was Marissa Hine and MPC handled post.

Webfiles:
Skunk> http://www.skunk.tv