Merry Christmas From Kiva Systems

My father works for an interesting company that makes robots - yep robots. These guys are for warehouses and pack internet orders for places like Staples ...and are actually quite 'smart.'

For the Holidays the company filmed the robots putting themselves away to charge for the evening to the tune of The Nutcracker Suite. For more visit Kiva Systems.

Electrobel Lights a Few Candles for The Holidays

Famous Brussels bring us this ethereal and amazing animation made with candle light to celebrate The New Year and Electrabel.


And knowing how awe inspiring a feat this spot would be, the group kindly made a Making Of Video...It took an army of animators, days of testing, hundreds of thousands of tea light candles and thousands of still images to produce the final 35 second commercial. The director is Raf Wathion of Dutch Production Company Czar.

Introducing Coraline

Director Henry Selick brings Neil Gaiman's story to life with a new stop motion animated feature that seems to be Nightmare Before Christmas meets Alice in Wonderland.

The trailers have begun playing on air and in theaters and an online ad campaign featuring 26 Alphabet themed posters has blanketed the web.

Selick, who's directorial credits include The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, and Monkeybone, has brought his somewhat dark an skewed signature to this new project which follows a young girl as she finds her way to an alternate reality and version of herself through a passageway in her closet.




You can see the entire Alphabet Campaign here on joblo.com

The Reality Campaign Reveals Clean Coal's Dirty Secret

The Reality Coalition sets us straight with their newest ad, "Smudge." The Reality Campaign, a joint effort of the Alliance for Climate Protection, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation, and Sierra Club - tries it's hand at comedy and pulls the covers off of an Ad campaign that is championing clean coal, in which even the spokesman gets dirty.

we can solve it

I Just Saw a Tootsie Roll Truck

Here in Boston the winter weather turned from beautiful to messy in a matter of minutes, and I happened to be stuck driving in the midst of it. As I tired to ignore the fact that I couldn't see Cambridge through the wind and snow as I crossed over the Mass Ave Bridge I saw something on the road almost as excitable as The Oscar Myer Wiener Mobile, a Tootsie Roll Truck! I had never seen one - they really look like a Tootsie Roll - and Mr. Owl is perched on the back - so cute! OK, so I'm easily excited.

This of course sent me into the archives to find some retro Tootsie Roll Commercials, I hope they bring a smile to your face. To watch them in better quality visit the Tootsie Roll Website.

Accountants Beware - Excel Music Video for AC/DC Rock n Roll Train

This year music videos saw innovations in new mediums in an effort to find something groundbreaking and new, changing context rather than content, and creating viral success rather than relying on broadcast the dying Music Video medium. The first example we saw was the amazing laser captured-filmless video for Radiohead's House of Cards.

This next example slipped through my fingers, could be that I'm not that into AC/DC, but the animation using excel as a medium is nothing short of awe inspiring. And how sweetly ironic to use such a business oriented format to showcase the rock n' rollers - it's just great.

You can check out the video in action below, and download your own copy of the excel document here.

2008 aniBoom Award Winner Couldn't Do It Without Voodoo

aniBoom, the home of all things animation, have just announced the winner of their 2008 animation competition. This year the film that came out on top was the dark tale of a Voodoo doll, “Sebastian’s Voodoo.” This short is dark, enticing, technically elite, and as far as story and direction I was full of anxiety and cringes for extended periods of time. Whenever a film has that much of an affect on me I have to commend it. This young artist has a tone that seems prepared to follow in the footsteps of a Tim Burton. Well done!

Check out the winner below and visit aniBoom to see the rest of the competitors.

New York Department Store's Holiday Windows 2008

As a former Production Designer and Set Decorator my absolute dream job would be to design store fronts in New York. Every year the biggest retailers outdo themselves with magical, otherworldy, and completely awesome vignettes.

Each store has a unique theme that is always fitting to the brand itself. This year, Barney's celebrates the anniversary of the peace sign with a hippy trippy display right out of the 60's. Sak's Fifth Avenue's display is a snowflake story book adventure, Macy's is a bright and colorful futuristic toy store, and Lord and Taylor's is a nod to traditions in an elaborate Christmas scene. The Bloomingdales scenes look like they were ripped from the 60's ad campaigns from Mad Men, and Bergdorf Goodman is an eerie but elegant winter scene with intricate white details and woodland creatures.

Barney's
Sak's Fifth Avenue (video)
Macy'sLord and TaylorBloomingdalesBergdorf Goodman

A Charlie Brown Ad Agency

It's the time of year when creative agencies start creating their interactive and often amazing Christmas Cards. This one is a realistic look into the world of an Ad Agency - told through the eyes of the Peanuts gang at Christmas.

Brad Pitt and Wes Anderson get Together

The quirky director and the hottie unite for this Softbank commercial. Pitt seems a bit Dr. Gonzo doesn't he? Could just be the speedy film...and its maybe the vacation wear.

The Notorious Bettie Page

Treo Commercial Could Be a Merry Melodie

I think this ad for headache relief Treo is so cute, I can see it as the lead-in to Who Framed Roger Rabbit - can't you? There is a something so classic and toony about those little birds, could be the mallets!

Directed by Brian Lee Huges and VFX from Fido Film.

Steven Wilson and BBH Urge us to Go to NYC

A few weeks ago some new ads appeared in bus stops around the Boston area that jumped out from the graying New England cityscape. These NYCGO.com billboards left me dreaming of a fun filled dayglo city life even though i know in reality New York is just and gray as Boston by this point in December. Maybe it could feel bright and lively enough to make up for the weather?
The ads are by illustrator Steven Wilson who's portfolio is hours of inspiration and includes editorial work, advertising, album art, fine art, and even some videos. Take a visit, or stay tuned as he has lots more I'd like to share. Thanks for the images Steven!

Miss Cherie Doir Commercial by Sophia Coppola

I just saw this on air and thought it was so sweet, and the song is just so pretty - it's like pink cotton candy but is actually "Moi Je Joue" by Brigitte Bardot. I love this time of year, bring on the perfume ads!


And if you want even more there is a making of video. Enjoy!

Charlize Theron J'Adore Dior

Charlize Theron takes it off in this sexy - but still classy - commercial for the Dior fragrance j'adore.

Anti-Drug PSAs of the 70's and 80's

In the world of PSA's there was nothing like the 70's and the 80's to give us memorable tag lines and intoxicating visuals to keep us away from drugs. OK, it could be that this is what I remember from growing up, and they therefore have a special place in my childhood memory, either way - enjoy!

Hannah Barbara


Pee Wee


This Is Your Brain On Drugs

Publish Post

Ninja Turtles


I Learned by Watching You


Users Are Losers


Friend


Chasing Rainbows


Snake


Just Say No

ikea Rearranges Furniture for the Holidays

Somehow ikea ads always manage to put a smile on my face. This new print and outdoor campaign from Zig Totonto did not disappoint. I wonder if I have the space to create any sort of joyful message with the furniture in my apartment...hmmm.

Scrabble Finds it's Visual Equal in New Print Campaign

More great work for Scrabble this holiday season, this time thanks to JWT Santiago. These print ads are so simple but so perfectly matched for the game. Though I am left thinking - Submarine? My word painting would probably be more like "sub" with a sandwich cut in threes, but then that's not as visually interesting now is it?

You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch

I'm off to see The Grinch at The Wang tonight to get into the holiday spirit. Have a great weekend and enjoy this montage I found.

Animation and Illustration from Graham Samuels

After yesterday's discovery I couldn't resist sharing more of the bright and graphic work of Graham Samuels. He has an extensive portfolio of work which spans advertising, editorials, commercials, short film, and of course music video and album art. I could spend a week posting on Samuels, and I just might, so for now here is a selection from his advertising portfolio.


































Check out this web video made for HP telling the tale of Serena "Sugar Fly" Williams.

Photographer Steven Meisel Snaps Madonna For Louis Vuitton

How smoky, weathered and sexy are these new Louis Vuitton ads? A perfect fit for the new line, said to have been inspired by Madonna herself by line designer Marc Jacobs.

The campaign was shot by frequent Madonna immortalizer Steven Meisel, who also photographed the Queen of pop earlier this year for Vanity Fair and in the past for a little 1992 book called Sex.

Young Folks are Stuck Whistling in My Head

I can't get this song out of my head lately, the whistling song, so we had to look it up and see who sings it. Peter, Bjorn, and John - Young Folks. How lame did I feel to see it's over 2 years old? Not enough to overshadow how excited I was to see such a great video directed by Ted Malmros (Shout Out Louds) and illustrator Graham Samuels.


Of course I had to go hunting for more goodies from the duo and found lots of eye candy from Graham Samuels who has also been responsible for a nice collection of cover art for Peter, Bjorn, and John, and an additional collaboration with Malmros for the music video Let's Call it Off.