For its new series Random Play, music video channel VH1 was seeking an offbeat visual representation of the music-themed comedy show and Toronto’s Cuppa Coffee whistled the appropriately distinctive design tune in creating the show’s on-air look.

Cuppa created the series’ show opening and four bumpers, using elements which played up the musical orientation of the series and its name. The show opening is an eclectic mix of mechanical creations, musically inspired elements and stop-motion techniques, which provide a context for the show’s cast members who are revealed in the boxes formed by the assembled elements.

Rob Pilichowski was Cuppa creative director on the job and orchestrated the creation of the mechanical gizmo which incorporated musical elements like tuning knobs and microphone parts. Cuppa shot the boxes and mechanical doo-dads in stop motion and separate blue-screen elements, and composited it all in After Effects. The shop also used Softimage to edit and add supers.

Pilichowski was creative director as well as animator and compositor on the job. Cuppa’s Justin Stephenson, Chris Morris and Mike Gotti contributed to shooting and compositing, and Margaret Lee also worked on animating and compositing. Adam Shaheen was executive producer and Russell Zeid created the mechanical boxes.