Reel of the Month Club (Dec. 2024): Coat of Arms
December 21, 2024
London director/animator/illustrator/maker Doug Hindson created his low-key (and appropriately) handmade grad film while studying illustration and animation at Kingston University, London to tackle the theme of “our increasing reliance on technology and the disconnect that often results.” [Watch]
The number of job titles may not be complete, but this new spot for job aggregation site Indeed (adapted by HouseSpecial from their award-winning CG short “A Tale of Momentum & Inertia”) is guaranteed to make your uncle Gene chuckle and ask “What the hell’s a compositor?” Agency: Mullen. [Watch]
Intimate and funny first person peek into the very SoCal childhood of Jack Black by Montreal’s graphic artist/animator/director of the moment Nicolas Ménard. With sponsorship from Google Play, California Sunday Magazine commissioned the clip as part of their “California Inspires Me” project. [Watch]
If your current job reeks of a certain Kafka-ness, this animated short may be just what you need. Fresh off a successful festival run, “Lost Cubert” was created by Jim Schmidt, Felix Fischer and Carolin Schramm while studying at Hochschule RheinMain in Wiesbaden, Germany. [Watch]
Intriguing look at the silent animation and VFX gems housed in UCLA’s Film & Television Archive. Part of the Fig. 1 series produced by University of California. [Watch]
A combination of puppetry from Jonny & Will at Blinkink and CG from MPC (created from a range of nature and bird references) elevates Dougal Wilson‘s new IKEA spot for Mother into the first major-league awards threat of 2015. [Watch]
Feeling a smidge nervous about what 2015 holds for you? This new year’s greeting from creative director Herve Lopez, animator Benjamin Joret and illustrator Veronique Dorey from Paris prodco Lord of Barbès should help. Or not. [Watch]
Clever concept from Leo Burnett plus snappy design, direction and animation by Buck propelled by an impossibly happy track by Mozella (who also wrote Wrecking Ball) “asks even the worst of arch enemies to put down the gloves and bring in the hugs in this all out love fest for McDonald’s.” [Watch]
Tel Aviv-based Nomint director Eric Lerner introduces his latest 3D character living in the real world: a yellow skater dude with strange artistic powers and existentialist issues named Gabriel. Eric Lerner: “This introduction showcases Gabriel’s world and some of my ideas of what is possible within it. [Watch]
London-based Swiss designer-turned-director Greg Barth turns this promo for Hello Play (a Belgian online electronic music platform) into a fun showcase for his trademark surreal ideas and minimal esthetic, creating all the visuals in-camera using stop motion, 3D prints, and 13 pounds of white chocolate. [Watch]
Manhattan’s Dress Code and Ogilvy & Mather elevate the dry task of explaining the process behind creating renewable energy from crop waste into 90 engaging seconds of informative 3D for Spanish multinational Abengoa. [Watch]
Take a quick peek into the creative and technical process of Mill+ directors Ben Smith and Bryce Wymer as they conjure the Netflix “Marco Polo” titles with ink and vodka.
The Copenhagen duo masquerading as BenniSteptoe (aka animator Benjamin Agersted and illustrator Patrick Steptoe) unleash the first unusual discovery of Captain Turkey Nose, their eccentric but somewhat less-than-valiant hero.
[Watch]
With “Turn Down for What” set to crack 155M views on YT at the time of this post, Sirs Kwan and Scheinert’s cult status appears to be in jeopardy. But as overplayed and omni-present as it may be, this manic mini-masterwork for the DJ Snake & Lil Jon single deserves to rank on every serious 2014 Best-of list. [Watch]
