In an industry teeming with egos, you won’t find them here. We’re consistently referred to as the “nice guys” by our clients and partners, and that’s the way we like it. Since 2004, we’ve developed long-standing relationships with advertising agencies, production companies, networks, and well known brands to produce a wide variety of content spanning the globe.
Good people doing
Great work.
Surpass + Delight
As an award winning studio specializing in 3D & 2D animation, motion graphics, visual effects, editing and color grading, we believe every project is an opportunity to surpass client expectations and delight audiences.
Always Stretching
Our entire team strives to consistently produce our best work while pushing each other to stretch and grow both professionally and personally. Life outside these walls are just as important to us as the pixels we push on screens. Away from the studio, we’re gardeners, wood workers, and interior designers. We bake our own bread, cure our own meat, and roast our own coffee beans. We’re fisherman, golfers, hikers and so much more. Simply put, we work hard, play hard, and get shit done.
Things we do well
PRE-PRODUCTION
- Concept Development
- Character Design
- Style Frames
- Storyboarding
- Animatics
- Graphic Design + Layout
ANIMATION
- Traditional + 2D + 3D
- Character
- Modeling
- Rigging
- Lighting
- Texturing
- Dynamics
- Fluid, Smoke + Fire
VISUAL EFFECTS
- Rotoscoping
- Tracking 2D + 3D
- Matte painting
- Fluids or physics effects
- Rig removal
- Sky replacement
- Camera projection
- Keying
- On set technical direction
POST PRODUCTION
- Online
- Offline
- Color Grading
- Final Conform
- Mastering
Communication is key
Over the years, we’ve learned the secret to a successful project is consistent and constant communication, which creates trust in the process. To maximize efficiencies and ensure the creative vision is met, the creative team and client will be closely involved throughout our 2D Animation Process. Once a project is awarded, a single point of contact is assigned from our team to help guide everyone through the process.
A goal without a plan is just a wish.
Each step in our process is designed to gain approvals at milestone moments while also showing continued development of the animation along the way. Depending on the final concept chosen, the process outlined may be adapted or evolved to meet your needs.
STEP 1. Sketch and Storyboard
Armed with the creative concept, direction, and script, our illustrators go to work sketching out key frames of the animation to convey the creative vision. These sketches are shared and client notes are addressed before proceeding to the Animatic.
STEP 2. Animatics
The primary purpose of an animatic is to dial in storytelling elements and work out the timing of the final animation. Animatics are created using the key frame sketches along with any additional frames needed to indicate motion. This step allows us to quickly identify additional scenes or frames needed and, in some cases, what scenes may need to be removed to best convey the story within the allotted time.
Animatics also include a scratch track for voice over and initial music selections to get a feel for how everything will work together in the final product.
STEP 3. Cleanup + Refinement
Once the animatic has been approved, we revisit the illustrations to refine the sketches. Color is added to the storyboards along with finer details before moving to our next step in the process.
STEP 4. Rigging + Prep for Animation
In this step, our artists work to give characters bones and organize the many layers of illustration in preparation for the animation team.
This technical step, taken to achieve fluid motion, is not shared for approvals.
STEP 5. Animation
We’ve come a long way from the initial sketches and now we’re ready to bring it all together. Our animators breathe life into the characters and environments as the elements come alive with motion. The first pass of animation focuses on the primary motion, and every iteration thereafter reveals additional secondary animation elements. Each version is shared with the client for review.
In the examples to the right, we begin with the walk cycle of a character to show his primary motion in the first pass of animation. A second pass adds movement to the background to sell his progression through space. We also add a bounce to his hair and the strap on his backpack to move to the rhythm of his walk. A third pass might reveal his coffee sloshing in his cup… never spilling a drop, of course. The point is, once we’re in the animation phase, we continue to refine with each new version up until the deadline of the project.
STEP 6. Delivery
The final step in getting your animation out in the world has arrived. The animation is approved and ready for delivery. Our editorial team will handle the final conform to ensure all delivery specifications are met. Final renders are paired with the final mix of voice over, music + sound design. Once the Master Files are prepared, we’ll send a Master Delivery link for your team and upload to broadcast distribution platforms as needed.
Artist
Window
Floor
Work
Big Light
We love what we do,
Let’s do it together.
Soon, the creative ideas you have presented will turn to scribbles on the page and before you know it, you’ll have a new animation to share with the world. We’re excited for the opportunity to play a role in setting these ideas into motion.