Whether created to bolster a reel with new capabilities or simply as an escape from client-imposed restrictions, personal projects and spec work provide a vital outlet for pent-up motion talent.

We were honored to publish all of these projects in The Stash Permanent Collection during 2024. They are listed here in chronological order by their issue of publication.
 
 
“WALKMAN” (above)
STASH 164

Chris Gil, CCO/CEO at Tektura Studio in Łódź, Poland: “Our goal with this in-house project was to envision how a product advertisement from a bygone era would appear if it was made with the aid of CG technology. Inspired by the vintage Walkman and the aesthetics of the 1990s, we sought to delve into motion design elements reminiscent of that period.

“This project is very much linked to music, so we focused a lot on how animation can influence music and the opposite. We wanted the Walkman itself to become an important part of the music.”
 
 
 

RAY-BAN “REFRACTED NIGHT”
STASH 164

Seba Morales and Bel R. Tarducci, co-founders/CDs at MinimalChat in La Plata, Argentina: “As this is a self-promotional piece, we envisioned our own brief where the product is showcased in a way that enhances its versatility for wearing it from day to night

“Our primary technical hurdle lay in harnessing the power of reflection and refraction as the bedrock of our storytelling. We aimed to craft visually arresting shots that not only captivate but also intricately weave the narrative together, ensuring a seamless fusion of form and story.”
 
 
 

NOTHING “EAR (2)”
STASH 165

Turpal Saytiev, CD at Futhark Studios in Nesbyen, Norway: “As this was a passion project, our goal was to create something high-end, something prestige, with great materials, lighting, and movement. We felt we needed to level up, get to Tendril’s level – this was our stepping-stone project to lead us there.

“Being a Blender-focused studio, we were initially scared that the tool wasn’t going to hold up to the challenge – that we had to either go for Cinema 4D or Houdini, with Octane or Redshift. But we were wrong. We learned so much, so many techniques and methods that are easily translatable to any other software.”
 
 
 

LOUIS VUITTON “COUSSIN”
STASH 165

Dillon Hutchins, ECD at Stylo Creative in Santa Ana, CA: “As our team has ventured into new industries, we’ve sparked innovation among those industry’s creative teams and helped rethink their approach to product marketing. Last year, we crafted a campaign featuring three short skincare vignettes, which has led to collaborations with many of the largest skincare and cosmetics brands globally.

“We felt that there was a space in the luxury world for us to do the same, and instead of waiting for a client to come through the door, we wanted to pick a product that met our level of quality, design, and functionality and show the industry why our team has something unique to offer.”
 
 
 

HAY “RECYCLED COLOR CRATES”
STASH 165

Kevin Gautraud, managing partner at Polymath Motion (recently renamed OddBeast): “We self-initiated this project as an opportunity to explore techniques and exercise some creative muscles. We liked the idea of doing a motion piece for a real product and company as a guide to work within. Simple things made with excellence have their own beauty, even the humble crate.

“Considered details and smart use of materials inspired us to create this piece that tells the story of recycling and giving new life to old things. Our creative challenge was finding the right balance between evocative vs literal imagery. My goal was for this piece to feel like it was filmed in a simple studio with practical lights and to be grounded in the real world.”
 
 
 

“THE FRUIT OF MY WOMAN”
STASH 168

Xinyue Gu, director/designer/animator in Savannah, GA: “This is a personal project I created for a school assignment at SCAD. Our professor’s requirement was to choose a book I love, imagine it being adapted into a TV series, and create a title sequence. The book I chose, The Fruit of My Woman depicts how a wife transforms from yearning for freedom and appearing younger into an aged, submissive, and withering soul.

“Using Kafka’s The Metamorphosis style, the novel eventually turns the wife into a plant on the balcony, dependent on her husband to water her to survive. And like many plants, her fate also reaches the end of life as winter approaches.”
 
 
 

JOHNNIE WALKER “CIVILIZATION”
STASH 168

Brent Bonacorso, director/animator in LA: “As a director, I’m always testing ideas and innovations involving different ways to tell stories. And so like a lot of people, I’ve been experimenting with AI platforms like Midjourney for a while now. This latest film actually began as an accident.

“One day, when describing ‘figures walking in a forest’, Midjourney got a bit confused and created an image of ‘figurines’ – perfectly recreating all the tells of a miniature diorama. And as a fan of miniatures since childhood, I thought it was such a fantastic look and knew I had to do something with it, so I continued to refine the aesthetic.”
 
 
 
Watch all the Best of Stash 2024 Collections.