We look at some recent TVCs with VFX from Method Studios, MPC and Bent Image Lab – with behind the scenes vids – and we have a special focus on The Mill LA.
DirecTV – ‘Troll’
Method Studios completed the visual effects for this spot from director Noam Murro (Biscuit Filmworks) for Grey Group. The DirecTV commercial was an honouree in the Animation category at this year’s AICP show. Check out the breakdown below showing the CG troll, effects and environments created by Method.
First Direct – ‘Platypus’
MPC worked with agency JWT London, production co Outsider and directing duo Dom & Nic to deliver Barry, a talking platypus, via extensive character design, animation and fur rendering. MPC explains the work in their making of video.
Direct Asia – ‘Parking Lot’
Bent Image Lab, Alchemy Asia and Tribe Untied devised an animated Robin Hood character for DirectAsia.com. See how the work came together in this behind the scenes vid.
Focus on: The Mill LA
The Mill has offices in London, LA, New York and Chicago, and fxguide has of course covered the studio’s effects creations for several years – from blockbuster Super Bowl spots to incredible design work. In particular, The Mill LA has been building its portfolio and crew size (now around 110) over the last five and a half years.
A recent spot was ‘Jurassic Party’ directed by Jospeh Kahn with creative partners Deutsch, HSI and Massive Music. “That was a big job for us,” notes The Mill LA executive producer Sue Troyan. “Another was a Chevy Sonic spot where the signature vehicle does a bunch of skateboard tricks. We also worked on many of the Super Bowl ads this year and the recent Facebook spots with Mark Zuckerberg.”
For the Sun Drop commercial, The Mill LA contributed to dinosaur concepts before live action was filmed in South Africa. “We showed the director some run cycle tests that suggested a happy dog and that went down well,” relays creative director and head of 3D John Leonti.
Leonti notes that he tends to be involved from the beginning of a project at The Mill LA right until the end, and that some of the other stand-out spots he has recent worked on include a Comedy Central South America ad requiring a new feather pipeline for a hawk and a The Bureau: XCOM Declassified video trailer with very subtle CG.
See these and other spots at The Mill’s website.