Image Engine, the digital imaging component of Vancouver’s Finale Editworks, recently completed a spot for Canadian Direct Insurance that combined a number of 3D elements with the director’s vision of incorporating illustrations into an all-cg backdrop.
The spot, produced out of Vancouver’s Aviator Pictures, features several 3D animated blankets falling upon and covering a sport vehicle. The sheets conform to the shape of the vehicle and are emblazoned with the ad’s tag line, which is texture mapped on their surface.
Image Engine had the challenge of making the speed of the blankets’ fall believable and the message readable, combined with a two-day turnaround and budget constraints.
David Straiton helmed the live-action component of the spot and varied the original plan by suggesting a cg background. Vancouver artist Robyn Huth supplied background illustrations which were texture mapped onto flat planes and assembled in a 3D environment in a look that IE animator Christopher Mossman calls ‘the Jetsons meet the Cleavers.’
Gear: Recently purchased dual processor SGI Octane provided the horsepower to meet the scary deadline. Elements were composited together and shadows, motion blur and film grain added using Avid Illusion.
Artists: Animators were Robin Hackl and Craig Vandenbiggelaar, with Hackl compositing and John Christie editing.