The Happy Slate

#NewWork This World Cup, as team India went on a truly historic run, we got a chance to celebrate their journey, in partnership with none other than Oreo India and Leo Burnett India. A piece of work we can proudly hold high! Why, you ask? Their ask- 1. A social media video to drive engagement, awareness and hype around their World Cup campaign, wherein Oreo India, for the first time, launched commemorative limited edition cookies to etch team India’s achievements real-time. 2. Approached by Leo Burnett- one of India’s celebrated advertising agencies- our task was to bring their visual concept to life with our animation prowess. 3. Create a unique animation style that followed brand guidelines to the tee and was in step with the agency’s illustrative art style, and at the same time, enhanced the overall storytelling. 4. Follow an extremely tight deadline & multiple levels of approval (within the agency and the brand), as the script was shaping up in real time, with the world cup only a couple of days away. Our solution- 1. The biggest challenge was to create fluid and dynamic animations while keeping the aesthetics of the pre-made illustration intact. This was tricky because it didn’t allow us to use standard animation techniques and ran the risk of feeling like an animated slideshow. We started by innovating new ways to animate the scenes, approaching each illustration as a fresh design challenge.  2. The result was a mix of multiple animation techniques used together in very precise manners - motion design, 3D, aftereffects dynamics, and traditional 2D animation. 3. Multiple explorations, iterations and a couple of late late nights later, we finally got it right- a perfect mix of multiple animation and design techniques to create a very unique and bespoke motion language that complemented the unique visual language of the brand.   4. Together, we were able to navigate the super-quick TATs, complex feedback loops and create a truly unique launch video in time for the World Cup release. A world cup, and a piece of work forever etched in our memory. #T20WorldCup #TeamIndia #BrandWork #TheHappySlate #LatestWork #Animation #Advertising

Some of our FAVOURITE animated movies trivia 😍👇 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) was Disney's first-ever completely hand-drawn full-length film, and required over 250,000 drawings... Yep, you read that right! The animators of the movie Up (2009) actually created and animated 10,297 balloons for the house to be lifted realistically. Oh, the lengths we go to create art! Loving Vincent (2017), one of our favourite animated works, is the world's first fully painted animated feature, with each of its 65,000 frames being an individual oil painting created by a team of 125 artists in the style of Vincent van Gogh. Time for a rewatch!? The Minions in Despicable Me (2010) were initially supposed to be these huge, brawny henchmen (say what?). But thankfully, the creators decided against it, to contrast the imposing demeanour of Gru. Phew! For the movie Monsters, Inc. (2001), the animation team actually animated all of Sulley's 2.3 million individual hairs by developing a special program called "Fur Tool". Geniiiuuuusss! Animation is crazy, isn't it? 💕 #PostOfTheDay #Animation #Disney #Pixar #Ghibli #AnimatedMovies #TheHappySlate

INDIAN ANIMATION HAS ARRIVED! If it wasn't obvious earlier, it's abundantly clear now! The massive viewership numbers of 'The Legend Of Hanuman' and 'Baahubali: Crown Of Blood' are testament to the fact that Indian animators have come a long way, and that if truly relevant Indian stories are done right, animation won't be limited to kids anymore! Here's why we think Indian animated works have more and more takers today- Quality: Today, Indian animated works have shown a significant improvement in animation quality, with smoother character movements, much-improved use of CGI, and a more cinematic experience- in sharp contrast to earlier Indian animations. Rich Narratives: Today, Indian animations go deeper into our mythology and history with stories that Indian and global audiences unanimously love. Technical Advancements: Adopting latest technological standards and global benchmarks have helped Indian animators elevate the technical aspects behind their animations- from rendering techniques to post-production. Streaming Platforms: Studios and popular OTT platforms like Disney+ Hotstar have backed ambitious Indian animation projects and made them accessible to a significantly larger audience, raising the bar of expectations and competition. Talent pool: With more and more opportunities to learn, grow and showcase their skill, Indian animators are pushing the creative envelope. Thanks to these and many more reasons, India is finally and truly expanding its animation slate! Read: https://lnkd.in/gP48tPC9 #Animation #IndianAnimation #PostOfTheDay #TheHappySlate #News #SuccessStory

In the midst of the #ExitPoll and #ElectionResults chaos, our latest work intends to add some much needed humour to the discourse. Watch it on YouTube! #NewWork #IndianElections2024 #Animation #Funny #Satire https://lnkd.in/gvUeC2Ge

What's common between Apple's product launches, Vox & TED episodes, movie title sequences, and even song videos? Dynamic visual elements, moving, bouncing, melding text, and a smooth visual wordplay.  It's called Kinetic Typography! An animation technique that combines text and movement. Kinetic Typography dates back to the 50s, but with the boom of media and internet, it has become an art form in its own right! Today, it can help you tell a story, makes viewers laugh, and even inspire them like one of those Nike ads (see 'Time Is Precious by Nike') No wonder why animators, content creators, artists, teachers, corporate swear by it. Here are some reasons why Kinetic Typography is a crucial creative storytelling tool today- Enhanced Engagement: Its dynamic nature captures viewers' attention more effectively than static text. Easier to understand: Animated text can creatively demystify important information, making it easier to understand and retain. Emotional Impact: Its striking visual flow can evoke emotions and create a stronger impact. Versatility: Kinetic Typography is used for various purposes, from films to advertising to education to games to corporate communications et al. What do you think about Kinetic Typography? Tell us in the comments below! #PostOfTheDay # #TheHappySlate #Design #Typography #Animation #AnimationLessons

If your final_video.mp4 doesn’t change to final_FiNaL_pakkaFINAL_video(3).mp4 after a few ‘minor changes’ are you even an animator? #DesignHumour #Animation #Relatable #PostOfTheDay

Do you know India’s first animated work? No? To be fair, there are many answers to this question. Experiments with animation had already started in the silent film era, with pioneers like Dadasaheb Phalke and his stop-motion experimental work- Akadyanchi Mouj (a game of matchsticks) in 1917. This was followed by independent works like Moonlit Night, Jambu Kaka, Swapna Tarang, Lanka Dahan, Superman’s Myth, and more. But if we’re talking about the first truly Indian animation work, it is Cinema Kadambam, a Tamil film which was made just after India’s independence in 1947. Then began the era of animated advertising films, with successful series like Rangeen Chutkiyan. But things truly changed when noted Disney animator Clair Weeks reached India in 1956. Under his recommendation, an animation cell was set up under the films division of India. Their first film was The Banyan Deer (1957), touted to be India’s first notable animation work. Derived from the Jataka Tales, the film was devised by the father of Indian animation, Ram Mohan, who married the art styles of Disney’s Bambi and Ajanta Caves’ frescoes in a deeply Indian narrative which garnered them resounding success. On the back of these successes, India’s animation industry has grown steadily, if not rapidly, and looks poised today, more than ever, to take centre stage! Want to know more about the history of Indian animation? Do watch: https://lnkd.in/dYetbFPQ (Courtesy: Internet Archive) Want us to share more such fact-based posts? Let us know in the comments! #IndianAnimation #Animation #Trivia #PostOfTheDay #Disney #History #TheHappySlate #Discussion #Creativity

Here's why we think 90s anime redefined storytelling- Anime might be 'the cool thing' now. But once it used to be a boundary-pushing, eccentric Japanese cousin of 'traditional animation'; it transported viewers to new realms, had thought-provoking themes, eccentric characters, visual novelty and more! But it didn't yet have the global adulation it deserved. Thanks to some truly iconic works, 90s was the decade that the world finally took notice, and storytelling was never the same again! Here are some of our favourite reasons why- Cowboy Bebop (1998-1999): This epic space western effortlessly moonwalked on an iconic Yoko Kano soundtrack; introduced us to its strange characters and while building a sprawling space world creators like us still dream of. Princess Mononoke (1997): This Hayao Miyazaki magnum opus changed our view on the art form with its mature themes, complex characters, and an environmental angle that transcended cultures and appealed to a global audience like never before. Ghost in the Shell (1995): A story that's relevant today, more than ever. This cyberpunk classic grappled with subjects like AI & consciousness about 30 years ago! With its profound themes and pathbreaking animation, it even inspired geniuses like the Wachowskis & James Cameron (and us of course). Perfect Blue (1997): With its shuddering exploration of reality, illusion, and fame, Perfect Blue became the new north star of psychological thrillers, with its timeless influencer on filmmaking globally. Pokémon (1997): Not many works of art have captured the global imagination the way Pokémon did. With countless pocket monsters, strange new regions, Pokémon is a lesson in world-building, and a reminder that even the wildly imaginative stories can Pika-pi their way into our hearts, if done right! That was our list, folks! We're sure you might have your own reasons to love anime, do share some in the comments. :) #anime #animation #creativity #postoftheday #animationlessons #discussion #miyazaki #ghibli #pokemon #storytelling #thehappyslate

Ever wondered how your favourite animated movies, or even ads are conceptualized and produced? (Hint: In principle, they all follow the same process!) So, if you're a rookie working on your craft, or a crafty animator who needs a back-to-basics reminder, here's a little something! The Stages Of Animation Production: A Simple Step-by-step Process. STEP 1: Ideation & Scripting You go from brainstorming on ideas, to creating characters, and zeroing in on the storyline. Once that is finalized, you put it all down in a script, detailing everything! STEP 2: Storyboarding & Prep The script now gets visualized by sketching a scene-by-scene flow of the narrative. Storyboards, and then animatics become your map to chart your animation journey. STEP 3: Design & Art Direction Here, you actually design your characters, backgrounds, props, and other key visual elements. Which means creating your own art style- from color palette, to textures, and an overall look & feel of your video. STEP 4: Animation & Production The words are finally put into action, with a specialized software (like Adobe After Effects) to conjure motion and bring characters to life- creating keyframes, rigging, and finally detailing. (Remember the 12 principles of animation?). STEP 5: Voice Over & Audio Make those actions, transitions, and conversations even more interesting with relevant sound effects, music, and recorded dialogues. Turn your idea into a true audio-visual experience! What do you think? Is your process any different? If so, share with us in the comments! #Creativity #Animation #Production #Upskill #Animators #Storytelling #Discussion #AnimationLessons #TheHappySlate

5 reasons why ‘Animated Explainers’ work so well for brands! The power of animation is not just limited to cartoons or those big-budget tent poles. Animation can help you elevate your brand communication to an exciting new level! Let’s see how- 1. Engagement: The visual appeal captivates your audience’s attention much better, with a combination of dynamic movements, vibrant colours, and interesting characters. 2. Clarity: Animation helps you untangle your complex offerings with an interesting narrative, through easy-to-understand visual segments, ensuring the audience is able to grasp the desired information. 3. Versatility: From a bumbling cartoon character to sleek motion graphics, animation can help you adapt to various tones and styles that suit your brand’s identity. 4. Memorability: An exciting mix of animation & audio is proven to enhance recall. So if you want your key information to be retained by your viewer, animated explainers might be the answer! 5. Shareability: The inherently entertaining nature of animated explainers prods the viewers to share them with their peers, thus amplifying your reach through sheer quality. Liking our content? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments. We'd be delighted to kindle some meaningful conversations around animation! #animation #creativity #brands #advertising #explainers #communication #animationlessons #animators