PLSN Designer Insights - Rush’s Clockwork Angels Tour
The last animation project I worked on was making animated projections for the Rush Clockwork Angels Tour. When I explain that to most folks - they think its very cool but usually the followup response is ‘….so what does that mean?’.
A big tour like that has a gazillion moving parts and it is a bit hard to explain in 10 words or less…
Luckily, PLSN interviewed Howard Ungerleider, the lighting director (he should really be called the Lighting Maestro) for the Clockwork Angels tour recently. He explained the whole she-bang-a-bang really well and mentions Crankbunny!
“The video content for the show is created by film producer Allan Weinrib and Dale Heslip, who’s the film director. Geddy (Lee) and our team brainstormed ideas. After that, with all the input, it was moved ahead to the content builders who are creative artists. Allen chooses from different eclectic companies who are involved in the process of putting it together. Companies like Crankbunny and Moment Factory of Montreal and many others…”
Howard also goes into explaining the moving LED screens that are additional to the large big-ass projection screen. These screens play additional video animation and are in themselves… animated. For one of the songs I worked on I was able to make these 10 or so small screens move and dance around the stadium ceiling.
Read more of the PLSN interview - click here
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Rush will be touring with the new “Clockwork Angels” album fall of 2012 / all of 2013 through out the US and Europe. Again I was able to animate stage projections for some of their songs. I say “again” because this is my third tour animating stage projections for them (which eventually do end up on a nifty DVD).
Each tour gets better and more crazier / beautiful so it is a real treat to animate their songs because every new tour and album always has such a wonderful theme and story. You’ll have to go see Rush live to see the animated projections — which really is the only way they should be experience (some can be seen from fan videos on youtube - not the same though!)
“Clockwork Angels Tour”
Client : Rush
Premise :Video screen projections for their 2012 - 2013 Clockwork Angels tour.
What I learned on this job? Martin Johnson Heade is a composition-al wizard.
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The short animation SODA I finished in 2011 for the Day of the Dead is an “official selection” in the 2012 Northwest Animation Festival in Portland, Oregon. The festival will be screening the film May 18-19th at the Hollywood Theatre. I love my little shadow puppetry animated film (it took forever to make ) so its nice that others will be able to see it.
More info about the Northwest Animation Festival:
The 2012 Northwest Animation Festival showcases nearly 60 short films from 15 countries, representing the very best of contemporary animation. It’s a variety show that emphasizes both fun and astonishing artistic accomplishment. Special treats this year include entries from many Oscar contenders, work by sculptor/filmmaker John Frame (concurrently on exhibit at the Portland Art Museum), and an exciting sneak peek into LAIKA’s forthcoming feature film ParaNorman.
website: www.nwanimationfest.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/nwanimationfest
twitter: www.twitter.com/NWAnimationFest
Information about my film SODA:
SODA is an animated fable about how the cycle of life is run by a trifecta of magical spirit animals. SODA is inspired by the visual folklore that different cultures (Spanish Day of the Dead paper cuttings, mythical shadow plays from Southeast Asia) have used for hundred of years to illustrate the why & how of our own mortality. Directed by Crankbunny / Norma V. Toraya the animated short features the use of animated shadow puppetry, projected silhouettes, plus traditional and stop-motion animation.
More info, stills, etc for SODA : http://soda.crankbunny.com
Limted Edition SODA art set for purchase : Clicky Here
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“Positively Amazing”
Client : Smartbite
Agency : Doner
Type : Cut-out animation, 60sec
Premise : A diet product that helps you chew smaller bites and loose weight easily
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“Robot Gets Its Wings”
Personal Project : Etsy
Type : Cut-out & stop motion, 60sec 2009
Premise : Everytime you buy or sell something handmade, a robot gets its wings.
Review from AdAge - http://adage.com/garfield/post?article_id=139144
“…It is simply magnificent — in a way that my book strongly implies CGA will seldom achieve. And in a way that the agency business had better take note of. In fact, here is what they should be saying: Uh-oh….”
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SODA is an animated fable about how the cycle of life is run by a trifecta of magical spirit animals.
The animation is inspired by visual folklore that different cultures (Spanish Day of the Dead paper cuttings, mythical shadow plays from Southeast Asia) have used for hundred of years to illustrate the why & how of our own mortality.
The animated short features the use of animated cut out paper shadow puppetry, projected silhouettes, plus traditional and stop-motion animation. Please visit the official website at soda.crankbunny.com for more information about the film.
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SODA is an animated fable about how the cycle of life is run by a trifecta of magical spirit animals. The animated short features the use of animated shadow puppetry, projected silhouettes, plus traditional and stop-motion animation. It’s completion took 3 years and will be available for viewing in mid-October.
Visit the official website : http://soda.crankbunny.com
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“Kalene’s Story”
Client : Abilify
Agency : Digitas
Type : Cut-out animation
Premise : Kalene and her family talk about living and coping through depression.
Click here to view campaign.
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“AARP United Health Care”
Client : AARP Medicare United Health Care
Agency : YMM
Type : Cut-out animation, 60sec 2010
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