AIM Studios apply their ample talents for narrative clarity and warmly illustrative visuals to an engaging literary journey for Rakuten Kobo, the Canadian ebook/e-reader brand thru Toronto agency The Garden.

Tiago Ribeiro, producer at AIM Creative Studios in Portugal: “We were challenged by the agency to create an ad for the global launch of Rakuten Kobo’s new color eReader. Inspired by the surrealism found within the pages of beautiful book designs, this project aimed to evoke the boundless realms of imagination experienced while reading.

“The ad blends a minimalist aesthetic with a grainy texture reminiscent of paper or watercolor paintings, creating a tactile connection to books. This effect was carefully crafted to reflect the desaturated palette typical of e-reader displays, while maintaining visual richness and engagement.
 

“Inspired by the surrealism found within the pages of beautiful book designs, this project aimed to evoke the boundless realms of imagination experienced while reading.”

 
“The animation was primarily created using traditional 2D frame-by-frame techniques, which was a challenge due to the amount of work required in each frame and the very tight three-week deadline. But this is what allows for the organic feel of the piece. Compositing and camera movements were then used to bring the many layers together, adding depth and a cinematic feel to the surreal, dream-like world.

“One of the biggest challenges was balancing the intricacies of the pipeline with the urgency of the schedule without compromising the quality standards we had set for this work.”

Shane Ogilvie, co-founder/CCO at The Garden: “The creative approach is built around the insight that a great book brings color into our lives and our imaginations. The goal was to feature books that are universally known and provide visual cues that would resonate with book lovers around the world. Great literature transcends culture and connects us all.”
 
 

 
Brand: Rakuten Kobo

Agency: The Garden
CCO: Shane Ogilvie
Executive Creative Director: Lindsay Eady
Copywriters: Lindsay Eady, Shane Ogilvie
Art Director: Mriga Suchdeva
Project Lead: Julia Zammit
Executive Producer: Melanie Lambertsen

Production: AIM Studios
Director: Christoph Sarow
Producer: Tiago Ribeiro
Project Manager: Daniela Carvalho
Technical Director: André Cunha
Animator: Jay Septimo, Ana Iutes, Ana Farinha, Daniel Roque
Additional Animation: Cristina Pirvu, Daniela Carvalho, André Cunha

Music/Sound Design: André Aires Augusto
Voice Over: Mike Regan