3D Archives - Trunk | Animation Production Company
Trunk has created a charming short for Cisco systems Inc.
On 23, Jan 2018 | In Press | By Pip
Armed with scalpels, scissors, crazy glue, building blocks, straws, and card Trunk has created decades of office technology in a matter of days for their latest short.
Technology giant Cisco has a wide range of services that can benefit small businesses. Yet, when your name alone can be daunting due to your scale, explaining how your secure networking, telecommunications and cloud security can help a business grow is a challenge. So how do you connect to small and medium businesses when you are one of the world’s largest tech firms? The answer was provided by MRM Meteorite and delivered by Trunk animation.
MRM chose to explain the tech giant’s services by telling the story of a company’s growth around the setting of a desk, something very relatable to all of us, as it seems we spend 90% of the time sitting in front of one! This warm approach also needed an animation style that was equally engaging and what better medium than using beautifully hand crafted miniature models. Having seen the work created by Trunk for the Paediatric Brain Tumour Foundation MRM meteorite bought them in to realise their vision.
The shorts action centres on an office desk, lovingly made by retired boat builder Dave Perrin, which evolves over the decades as new technology comes and goes. We see a typewriter replaced with a series of computers, then phones and fax machines flick through different models, and even the staff in the company photos grow over time. In total nearly a hundred props were made by Trunk’s 3D model makers, Jock Mooney, Layla Atkinson, John Harmer and Adrian Leak as well as brilliant intern Stephanie Martin. Layla designed the whole set to spin as each period of time changed, so as the business grows, we get a fleeting glimpse of the buildings outside, before re-entering in a new decade, driving the story on.
DOP maestro Pete Ellmore beautifully lit the tiny set to ensure that all the textures and personality of the props were captured. He also altered the lighting over the shoot, bathing the set in morning, afternoon and evening light to reiterate that passing of time. Animator John Harmer painstakingly moved and replaced each element to create the fantastic time-lapse effect, whilst Rok Predin built additional CG elements to weave in alongside the hand built models. Overall the piece has a wide range of textures and materials, which reflect Layla’s short film ‘Aftermath’, and which allows the film to have a sense of place, and a relatable feel.
Composer Ivan Arnold built on the theme of ‘retro to contemporary’, by composing a track that in a way feels timeless, with a mix of acoustic and electric guitar, and a driving bass, it really drives the narrative forward. The formidable Barnaby Templer and Chris Swain @ Fonic created the sound design, and Lorraine Hodgson beautifully voiced the narrative.
Producer Richard Barnett says of the short “We pushed the boat out on this project, looking to achieve that hand made feel that gives the warmth of the narrative, balanced with a high end production value that reflects the sophisticated nature of Cisco’s products. With a turnaround of just 5 weeks from start to finish, it meant that everyone had to pull together and really work hard. We had such amazing support from everyone working on the project from, crew, to agency, to client. That really makes the difference!’
The short will be used by Cisco on their small business homepage, showcasing their solutions and promotions dedicated to small business customers.
Click below for press coverage :-
Credits :-
Director- Layla Atkinson
Producer- Richard Barnett
DOP- Pete Ellmore
Animation- John Harmer, Layla Atkinson
Art Department- Dave Perrin, Jock Mooney, John Harmer, Layla Atkinson, Adrian Leak, Stephanie Martin
CG and Compositing- Rok Predin, Pete Mellor
Gaffer: Jonathan Yates
Motion Control- Max Halstead
Composer- Ivan Arnold
Sound Design and Mix- Barnaby Templer, Chris Swaine @ Fonic
Lighting: Panalux
Motion Control Rig: Clapham Rd Studios
Senior Account Director- Chris Willocks
Agency- MRM Meteorite
Client- CISCO Systems Inc
Rok Predin’s New Short Film Trailer ‘One of a Kind’
On 25, Mar 2014 | In news / blog | By Richard
Trunk Animation’s director Rok Predin has been working like a demon since the New Year creating his fabulous new film ‘One of a Kind’. The trailer gives a first peak at the sumptuous rich palette, style and feel of this upcoming short. It also features just one of the staggering 73 characters featured in the film. It has been great fun noticing the increasing amount of highlighter ink covering the printed pages stuck to the wall beside Rok, as they mark the progression of each character from concept to completion. Even though there are many pages to go, Rok is confident of a late spring release.
The subject of the film contains a grand evolved theme that, like his short “Back in the Day” (https://vimeo.com/67576646), will resonate with all of us. For the first time in a Rok Predin short a narrator has been used to tell the story. The narration is provided by…..well that’s a secret for now but Rok was chuffed when they agreed to get involved. However, we can tell you that the Ivor Novello award winning composer Daniel Pemberton, who has just finished working on Ridley Scott’s latest feature ‘The Counselor’, is creating the wonderful score. And as always we’re thrilled that Barnaby Templer and Fonic have agreed to come on board to look after the Post Production.
As so many distinct characters are involved in the film it creates a host of challenges for Rok, who notes “The main challenge is to find an efficient way to animate multiple characters and retain their diversity without making custom rigs for each of them”. Working with a small team he is overcoming this and other challenges by pushing his skill set to the max. Using Photoshop, Cinema 4D and After Effects Rok is constructing a multitude of costumes, textures, hairstyles and accessories for his characters all which bear the visual handwriting of their creator.
All of us at Trunk are waiting the late spring with bated breath. One thing we can be sure of is that the completed film will sit proudly alongside his other well-received shorts that include “The Chase” (https://vimeo.com/58445885) and “Inside” (https://vimeo.com/40523105).
Jaguar C-X17
On 25, Sep 2013 | No Comments | In Commercials, Director Page, directors, Films, Rok Predin | By Richard
A film about the design philosophy behind Jaguar’s new C-X17 concept car with Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Design Director (Director’s cut).
Director: Rok Predin
Animation: Martin Oliver, Francisco Puerto Esteban, Layla Atkinson, Rok Predin, Will Jarvis
Art Workers: Jenny Jokela, Sarah Yan
Composer: Sebastijan Duh
Sound Design: Jake Roberts
Sound Mix: JM @ Fonic
Compositing: Rok Predin
Producer: Richard Barnett
Animation Concept: Trunk
Agency: FP Creative
Prod Co: Trunk Animation
Here comes the ice cream van
On 21, May 2013 | No Comments | In news / blog | By Layla
Here are some stills to whet your appetite for Alasdair and Jocks new film. It’s almost finished and it’s looking great!
Inside
On 19, Apr 2012 | One Comment | In news / blog | By Richard
Here’s Rok Predin’s latest short film project. The film initially suggests a child’s ‘lift the flap’ book but it quickly subverts this familiar visual narrative and confounds the viewer’s anticipations. As Rok says the visual journey “lets the viewer ponder the traditional relationship between internal and external space while being a very visually pleasing film ”. The use of a beautiful pared down palette reinforces the viewer’s engagement with the short creating a mesmerising and incredibly engaging film. The spooky soundtrack was created by Ivan Arnold who Rok previously collaborated with on the award winning ‘Winter Poem’. “Inside” was created using Cinema 4D and composited using After Effects. It was conceived, animated, composited and directed by Rok Predin.
Inside
On 05, Oct 2011 | One Comment | In Director Page, Films, Rok Predin, work | By Richard
Director: Rok Predin
Short Film
CBBC | Idents
On 04, Dec 2010 | No Comments | In Broadcast | By Richard
Director: Layla Atkinson
Illustration: Layla Atkinson
Producer: Richard Barnett
Animation: Darragh Mason, Grigorias Leontiades
Compositor: John Taylor
Creative Director: Paula Williams and Tim Platt
Client: Red Bee Media
