Corporate Animation Showcase 5 – European Studios
This month its the turn of the European studios to show us what they’ve got to offer us within the realms of corporate animation. Three very different films fill the showcase this month from hand sketches to motion graphics to beautifully stylised, these guys have got it covered. As with many films from different countries patterns in styles start to emerge and it seems that corporate animation is no different. The film showcased from Russia and France this month certainly live up to their nations style.
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Showcase pick of the month goes to Paris based studio, 2 Factory and their film Oxelo Klick. With it’s limited colour palette, stylised character design mixed with slick motion graphics this film masters simplicity. It’s crisp and punchy feel is mainly down to it’s clever use of negative space. Encapsulating much of the different elements in bubbles and block colours allows maximum focus on what needs to be seen. We are left with only the vital elements to help aid the voiceover. From the ornate buildings through to the delicate characters it’s french design undertones are screaming through, whilst still managing to adapt and stay fresh. The transitions and small flourishes such as the speed lines and odd billows of smoke and dust help to add that extra bit of aesthetic charm. The walk cycles I must say are questionable but who’s looking at that when the rest looks so beautiful.
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Second up is a strip down from the ornate. No less stylised but this time Dutch studio in60seconds have taken to simple sketches to bring their film Explanimations to life. Created to promote their concept and company we are thrust into a sort of pop book. The use of pop up transitions works intriguingly well within this film, carefully drifting us through its world with character and sets folding down and popping up all the time. These simplistic yet carefully created drawings are reminiscent of the whiteboard animations that are still a much used corporate film medium. This is a clever way of adapting a proven formula and once again relies on a stripped down style to best communicate a message. And just in case you didn’t think it was Dutch, look out for the elongated buildings and canal at the end.
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We go east for our next pick and into the realms of Russia for Trailers studios film Яндекс. From the get go we are met with some very Russian-esq design. Strong graphic rigid buildings and dark brooding colours present a world that is strangely inviting. Its lanky bouncy character contrasts strikingly with this stark little scene and with the use of some comical situations and plink plonky music we are immediately at ease and into the story. The originality, apart from the design, comes from its daring use of proportion bringing to the forefront the character who appears to be many 10’s of times bigger than the set around him. This helps to keep the viewer focused whilst also containing us in a non-complicated environment allowing the actions to be easily read and understood. This is vital in a film with zero dialogue, which must get the point home through pantomime alone.
Some brilliant examples this month with some very varied styles and techniques. It seems that all across Europe, corporate animations are taking over. Taking over in a way that is constantly pushing creativity and design. Can’t wait to see more.
Don’t forget to head over to the Corporate Animation Showcase Vimeo page to add your films and you never know you could be featured in the next showcase. https://vimeo.com/groups/corporateanimation