SOHO, UK, May 22, 2000: VTR, and its newly formed 3D animation arm, The Hive, have joined forces to post-produce a series of three graphics-intensive commercials for America Online's latest television advertising campaign. The adverts, 'Parenthood', 'Library' and 'Times Up', all required substantial 3D animation work and heavy flame and inferno visual effects compositing. They took about two months to complete.

Once the original edit and conform was completed at VTR, the commercials were sent across to The Hive for intricate 3D animation work. VTR artists Tim Davies and Emir Hasham then composited the 3D and live action work in flame and inferno.

One of the most complex scenes for The Hive involved creating and tracking a moving 3D dress onto the blue dress of the main actress. This was done using the Lightwave animation package. Nathan Laud, animation director at The Hive, said: "Our animators had quite a challenge as by hand they had to ripple and twist the dress in 3D so that it moved in line with the natural contours and movements of the actresses body."

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The three commercials are airing over a six-month period. The final commercial and the most complex of the series, 'Times Up', will be aired from June 1.

Credits

 

Director	Richard Sloggett
Agency	Mortimer Whittaker O'Sullivan
Agency Producer	Rebecca Williams
Production Company/Producer	Will van der Vlugt
VTR Producer	Mike Capon
The Hive Producer	James Niklasson
VTR inferno and flame artists	Tim Davies and Emir Hasham
The Hive lead animator	Richard Nelson

 

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