http://www.playdead.tv Playdead Ltd. - Motion Graphics, Animation, Design & Post Production Wed, 16 May 2012 11:57:28 +0000 http://www.playdead.tv en http://www.playdead.tv/Inked-Playdead http://www.playdead.tv/following/playdead.tv/Inked-Playdead Wed, 16 May 2012 11:57:28 +0000 Playdead Ltd. - Motion Graphics, Animation, Design & Post Production 3415722 A Playdead logo animation experiment using water and ink droplets. http://www.playdead.tv/Playdead-Winter-Reel-2011 http://www.playdead.tv/following/playdead.tv/Playdead-Winter-Reel-2011 Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:39 +0000 Playdead Ltd. - Motion Graphics, Animation, Design & Post Production 3408748 Playdead Winter Reel 2011 from Playdead on Vimeo. http://www.playdead.tv/Glowing-Playdead http://www.playdead.tv/following/playdead.tv/Glowing-Playdead Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:52:48 +0000 Playdead Ltd. - Motion Graphics, Animation, Design & Post Production 3308447 A Playdead logo animation using Thinking Particles. Glowing Playdead from Playdead on Vimeo.<img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3308447/neon_still_4_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3308447/neon_still_4_o.jpg" data-mid="16978111" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3308447/neon_still_3_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3308447/neon_still_3_o.jpg" data-mid="16978109" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3308447/neon_still_2_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3308447/neon_still_2_o.jpg" data-mid="16978098" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3308447/neon_still_1_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3308447/neon_still_1_o.jpg" data-mid="16978090" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3308447/neon_still_5_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload50.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3308447/neon_still_5_o.jpg" data-mid="16978115" border="0" align="left"/> http://www.playdead.tv/The-Price-Of-Kings-Yasser-Arafat http://www.playdead.tv/following/playdead.tv/The-Price-Of-Kings-Yasser-Arafat Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:44:45 +0000 Playdead Ltd. - Motion Graphics, Animation, Design & Post Production 3283259 Title sequence, maps and 2 x graphic montages Commissioned by Spirit Level Film A feature length documentary film Project Case Study Earlier this year we created a series of graphics for the landmark documentary series: The Price Of Kings by Spirit Level Film. The series explores the price of leadership through the eyes of some of the world’s most influential leaders. This case study looks at the graphics work we did for their first film on Yasser Arafat. Initially Spirit Level Film approached us to design and animate a number of maps, to show how the borders of Israel and Palestine have changed over history. We ended up designing an opening title sequence, maps, and two graphic montages! The main aspiration of the project was to design the graphics so that they felt very much a part of the documentary in terms of style, treatment, pace and tone. They had to convey their meaning without being too obtrusive. To start off we presented a number of different styles and tones for the maps. From this we could gauge which design direction to go with. We ended up choosing a style with lots of texture and with quite muted colours, so it felt like it belonged alongside the grainy archive footage used in the documentary. It was also really important that the border lines were very visible so we spent time making these as clear as possible, finally using a brighter blue colour to highlight the edges. Final map designs <img src="http://payload49.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3283259/MAP1_web_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="920" height_o="518" src_o="http://payload49.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3283259/MAP1_web_o.jpg" data-mid="16835963" border="0" align="left"/> The maps were created using a combination of software, including Illustrator for their outlines, Photoshop for textured layers and then brought into After Effects to create the final animations and camera moves. The edit of the documentary was still in the early stages, so we designed the compositions so that they could be easily re-timed, once the edit was locked. <img src="http://payload49.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3283259/MAP2_web_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="920" height_o="518" src_o="http://payload49.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3283259/MAP2_web_o.jpg" data-mid="16835960" border="0" align="left"/> Once the maps were finalised, we began to design the graphic montages. The idea of these were to visually represent 2 periods of spiraling violence, and the events that unfolded in each one. Spirit Level Film gave us a number of key dates and events that they wanted to show. From this we worked with their researcher to find appropriate images from different archives. The reason why Spirit Level Film wanted to use graphics was that a lot of ground needed to be covered in a short period of time, and they were finding it difficult to do this purely in the edit room. For each montage, we needed to think of a device that would “carry” the viewer through the different events. For the 1970's montage, we used the device of old TV sets to “house” the graphics within, so they held together and felt part of one sequence. Multiple headlines and images animate onto the screen and then smash apart as they transition from one to another. We designed the start of it so the graphics appear over the top of the documentary footage, creating a smooth flow into the sequence. The layouts for the different newspaper headlines were first designed and created in Photoshop, before bringing the layers into After Effects, animating them in 3D space and adding various layers of video textures to give the graphics a sense of depth. Final 1970's graphics montage For the 1980's montage, we came up with the idea of designing and building a street scene, with piles of newspapers along it. As the camera moves through the street, different newspaper headlines and images animate on and are presented to the viewer. As the sequence progresses, the violence escalates, and so the graphics become more frenzied and layered. We also added in some additional vector and typographical elements to heighten this feeling of things spiraling out of control. Final 1980's graphics montage One of the main challenges for the montage sequences was to make sure they didn't look too graphical and modern. When we initially started to build the sequence, we used quite a lot of vector imagery with sharp back lines, contrasted against the more grainy textures. Although these looked great, as the edit of the documentary progressed, they started to look a little bit out of place, as the overall tone was much more subdued. Therefore we had to strip back and soften a number of different graphics. A key example of this was the soldier outlines towards the end of the 1980's montage. At first they were much more illustrative and defined, but we then went on to knock back their opacity so they faded into the background more. Once we had designed the maps and montages, Spirit Level Film asked us to start thinking about an opening sequence. An initial idea was to have a giant old leather bound book, that flips open to reveal the different stories within it. Whilst everyone liked the concept, we felt that we needed something that gave more of global feel, the magnitude of the decisions our world leaders are faced with, and the overriding themes of the series. Final opening title design <img src="http://payload49.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3283259/Title_Still_Web_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="920" height_o="518" src_o="http://payload49.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3283259/Title_Still_Web_o.jpg" data-mid="16836089" border="0" align="left"/> Together we developed the idea of starting out in space, with the sun rising behind the Earth, and slowly zooming in as it turns. We designed the title text so it’s made from a textured golden metal, with a feeling of weight and strength to it. Eventually the camera zooms right into Israel and Palestine, with an image of Yasser Arafat appearing on a beach, gazing out to sea. Next come a number of different shots that are timed to the opening music, bringing us into the heart of Jerusalem, and the first shot of the documentary. <img src="http://payload49.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3283259/Title_Still_02_web_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="920" height_o="518" src_o="http://payload49.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3283259/Title_Still_02_web_o.jpg" data-mid="16836087" border="0" align="left"/> All of the opening sequence including the 3D globe was created using After Effects. The main challenge of this was to keep the country outlines very crisp, even when zooming right in. For this we needed to build and render the globe at a massive resolution, which obviously had an implication on rendering times. The timescale of the project from initial concepts through to final delivery was much, much longer than we're used to. In fact – we were working on and off the project for six months! One of the main things that we had to adjust was the timing in the different graphics. As we were working alongside the edit, things kept changing so we had to adapt as we went along. We also helped Spirit Level Film to stabilise a few shots, where the camera juddered slightly during zooms. As we’re based in Glasgow and Spirit Level are located in London, we used our dedicated online FTP channel to send down compressed Quicktime movies for previewing purposes. This was a really efficient and quick way of doing things, and allowed us to get a sense of how things were working. We even sent the final HD uncompressed renders this way! In March of this year, we were delighted to attend of the premiere of the documentary in London at the Haymarket Cineworld. It was the first time we’d seen the whole film and it was great to see it all come together on the big screen. Spirit Level Film are making 12 documentaries in the series and we’ve recently finished creating an animation for their second film The Price Of Kings: Shimon Peres. More details to follow on that! You can follow the rest of the series and order the films at www.priceofkings.co.uk http://www.playdead.tv/Clearly-Playdead http://www.playdead.tv/following/playdead.tv/Clearly-Playdead Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:36:09 +0000 Playdead Ltd. - Motion Graphics, Animation, Design & Post Production 3277028 A Playdead logo animation using Thinking Particles. Clearly Playdead from Playdead on Vimeo. <img src="http://payload48.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3277028/still_1_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" src_o="http://payload48.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3277028/still_1_o.jpg" data-mid="16800992" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload48.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3277028/still_3_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" src_o="http://payload48.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3277028/still_3_o.jpg" data-mid="16801013" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload48.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3277028/still_5_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" src_o="http://payload48.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3277028/still_5_o.jpg" data-mid="16801033" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload48.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3277028/still_6_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1920" height_o="1080" src_o="http://payload48.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3277028/still_6_o.jpg" data-mid="16801059" border="0" align="left"/> http://www.playdead.tv/Twig-Gumballs http://www.playdead.tv/following/playdead.tv/Twig-Gumballs Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:03:12 +0000 Playdead Ltd. - Motion Graphics, Animation, Design & Post Production 3148277 A short online viral for Twig Ltd. Watch with sound!! <img src="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148277/gumball_image1_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148277/gumball_image1_o.jpg" data-mid="16087106" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148277/gumball_image2_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148277/gumball_image2_o.jpg" data-mid="16087104" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148277/gumball_image3_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148277/gumball_image3_o.jpg" data-mid="16087103" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148277/gumball_image4_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148277/gumball_image4_o.jpg" data-mid="16087101" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148277/gumball_image5_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148277/gumball_image5_o.jpg" data-mid="16087099" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148277/gumball_image6_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148277/gumball_image6_o.jpg" data-mid="16087096" border="0" align="left"/> http://www.playdead.tv/Lenny-Henry-Finding-Shakespeare http://www.playdead.tv/following/playdead.tv/Lenny-Henry-Finding-Shakespeare Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:42:17 +0000 Playdead Ltd. - Motion Graphics, Animation, Design & Post Production 3148133 Title sequence and break part graphics. Commissioned by Matchlight. A 1 hour documentary for ITV 1 Perspectives. For the titles, we developed the idea of the words appear like a swirl of dusty particles (a visual reference to Othello). For the background we used some footage of the stage, so it seems like the titles appear within the environment. We graded it with blue tones, so it stands out from the other footage in the programme. For the break-part animations we provided the opening titles with a transparent background, so they could be placed over the top of any other footage in the edit. Watch the programme HERE. <img src="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148133/lh_image1_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148133/lh_image1_o.jpg" data-mid="16086514" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148133/lh_image2_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148133/lh_image2_o.jpg" data-mid="16086507" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148133/lh_image3_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148133/lh_image3_o.jpg" data-mid="16086508" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148133/lh_image4_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload42.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3148133/lh_image4_o.jpg" data-mid="16086513" border="0" align="left"/> http://www.playdead.tv/Transcend-Video-Installation http://www.playdead.tv/following/playdead.tv/Transcend-Video-Installation Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:59:51 +0000 Playdead Ltd. - Motion Graphics, Animation, Design & Post Production 3139889 Part of the "Spaced In The City" exhibition at The Lighthouse arts venue in Glasgow. "Transcend" aims to question our relationship with space within a city by allowing the viewer to float above the hustle and bustle – transcending out of the chaos for a minute or two, pausing still and taking some time out. It also raises the question about the continuous CCTV video surveillance encountered within the city environment, capturing our identities and movements. "Transcend" forms part of a bigger trans-media project from PLAYDEAD, find out more info here... DEEP//INTO//THE//FUTURE <img src="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_00_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1280" height_o="720" src_o="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_00_o.jpg" data-mid="16042106" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_01_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1280" height_o="720" src_o="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_01_o.jpg" data-mid="16042107" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_02_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1280" height_o="720" src_o="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_02_o.jpg" data-mid="16042108" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_03_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1280" height_o="720" src_o="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_03_o.jpg" data-mid="16042109" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_04_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1280" height_o="720" src_o="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_04_o.jpg" data-mid="16042116" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_05_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1280" height_o="720" src_o="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_05_o.jpg" data-mid="16042119" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_06_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1280" height_o="720" src_o="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_06_o.jpg" data-mid="16042122" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_07_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1280" height_o="720" src_o="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_07_o.jpg" data-mid="16042125" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_08_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1280" height_o="720" src_o="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_08_o.jpg" data-mid="16042126" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_09_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1280" height_o="720" src_o="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_09_o.jpg" data-mid="16042127" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_10_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="1280" height_o="720" src_o="http://payload41.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3139889/transcend_10_o.jpg" data-mid="16042129" border="0" align="left"/> http://www.playdead.tv/She-Wolves-England-s-Early-Queens http://www.playdead.tv/following/playdead.tv/She-Wolves-England-s-Early-Queens Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:28:59 +0000 Playdead Ltd. - Motion Graphics, Animation, Design & Post Production 3011205 Title sequence and programme graphics. Commissioned by Matchlight Ltd. A two-part series for BBC FOUR. For these graphics, we developed the concept of using an old leather bound book for the title to appear on, as if containing the stories about England's Early Queens. The title animates on by using a burning fiery effect to represent the era that the programme is about, with sparks and embers flying off the letters. For the maps - to keep in tune with the titles, we went with the idea of the countries being on a scroll like texture. To give a sense of movement, the sea softly animates so it "swells" up and down slightly, as the camera zooms and pans around the different areas. <img src="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3011205/shewolves_map_still_2_905_905.jpg" width="905" height="507" width_o="905" height_o="507" src_o="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3011205/shewolves_map_still_2_905_o.jpg" data-mid="15345488" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3011205/shewolves_map_still_3_905_905.jpg" width="905" height="507" width_o="905" height_o="507" src_o="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3011205/shewolves_map_still_3_905_o.jpg" data-mid="15345497" border="0" align="left"/><img src="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3011205/shewolves_title_still_1_905_905.jpg" width="905" height="507" width_o="905" height_o="507" src_o="http://payload35.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/3011205/shewolves_title_still_1_905_o.jpg" data-mid="15345478" border="0" align="left"/> http://www.playdead.tv/Fan-v2 http://www.playdead.tv/following/playdead.tv/Fan-v2 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:26:00 +0000 Playdead Ltd. - Motion Graphics, Animation, Design & Post Production 2774823 An experimental project I've been meaning to do for ages! I'm hoping to add more to this soon, dust particles, ribbons and (for some reason), I'd like to wrap it all in lovely clingfilm. Check out version 1 of the project here... Fan <img src="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/2774823/playdead_fan_still_2_905.jpg" width="905" height="509" width_o="905" height_o="509" src_o="http://payload23.cargocollective.com/1/3/97451/2774823/playdead_fan_still_2_o.jpg" data-mid="14089554" border="0" align="left"/>