Small wonder
Bully Pictures director Craig Tanimoto’s spot for Nissin Foods sees him team up with vfx house Zoic Studios to introduce a pint-sized animated guru.
In the spot, Nissin Chop Suey’s new spokesman, Eddie Wise shares his wisdom for microwavable noodles with a coworker. Zoic’s team under the direction of Loni Peristere handled animation, including the design of the Eddie Wise character.
The director suggested that making Eddie smaller than originally planned would make his interactions with the live actors appear all the more ludicrous.
The LA-based production company has also been involved in McDonald’s current $100 million launch of its McCafé line. The campaign includes three spots created by Bully Bros. Post and ad agency, IW Group. The first features vfx and animation from Bully Bros. Post creative director Kiki Chansamone.
Inspired by Chinese rice paper painting, it shows a simple, line drawn human head with a coffee bean representing the two halves of the brain. The two halves are in conflict over when to indulge in a McCafé Mocha. Live action product imagery is integrated with the rice paper animation, resulting in distinctive look that is at once classic and contemporary.
Metadata NISSIN Production Company: Bully Pictures Live action director Craig Tanimoto. Animation Director: Loni Peristere (Zoic) Advertising Agency: Dentsu America / Santa Monica / CA Senior Manager/Dentsu Tokyo: Masazumi Horie EVP/ General Manager: Mike Parise SVP/Creative Director: Sandep Rahi Creative Director: Brad Gantt SVP/Group Account Director: Diane Dreyer Producer: Rhys Demery Account Supervisor: Chihiro Shinoda Editorial – Union Edit LA EP – Michael Raimondi Editor – Paul Plew Character Animation, VFX and VFX editing: Zoic Studios. EP: Steve Schofield EP/Producer: Erik Press VFX Supervisor Leslie Ekker CG Supervisor: Andy Wilkoff Producer: Erik Press VFX Editorial: Dmitri Gueer VFX Assistant: An Dang
McDONALD’S McCafé Title:“Brain” Advertising Agency: IW Group Executive Creative Director: John Leewong Creative Director: David Toyoshima Director of Broadcast: Kathleen Yip Senior Producer: John Author Copywriters: Ting Lin, Susan Pak, Zosimo Quibilan Art Director: Wonee Paek Account Director: Flora Zhao All footage from McDonald’s Creative Library Original “head” art by David Toyoshima All other art by Kiki Chansamone Post Production: Bully Bros. Post Visual Effects and Animation: Kiki Chansamone Offline Editor: Pete D’Andrea Executive Producer: Jason Forest Producer: Gaelon Swift
