DIRECTORS THINK TANK

#PLAYYOURPART

The pandemic saw a rise in animated content as live action production was so limited. Stop motion animation is a wonderfully varied medium that with even the most simple of setups, can lead to really meaningful results. This was the challenge from Directors Think Tank, to bring important ideas to life in fresh and inventive ways.

THE BRIEF

The commercial film industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but as we all slowly returned back to a new normal, there had to be some big changes to ensure that we all could work together safely. One of Malaysia's most recognised production houses, Directors Think Tank, wanted to create a series of short social media films to highlight some of these new guidelines for safer professional practice, but in a much needed lighthearted way.

Claymation Puppet Wears Face Mask: Directors Think Tank Malaysia

2D Claymation Puppets On Glass With Green Screen

OUR PROCESS

We identified early on that claymation was the best solution to tell these little humorous stories in an engaging but meaningful way. The eight different scenarios were all storyboarded and the cast of characters designed, and then made in plasticine. Working with limited time and materials, these claymation characters were all animated on glass for faster turnaround. Digital post-production techniques were used to create background environments using a mixture of practical and digital artwork. The eight short films were then all brought together with amazing sound design work by Fuse Adventures in Audio.

"Life and sets under lockdown forces us to think of other ways to bring stories to life. CG and motion graphics are the usual go-tos, but we wanted to explore something new ... or rather, something old school..."

Sling, Film Director
Directors Think Tank.

THE RESULTS

The eight films were released over the course of a few weeks on Instagram and other social media platforms. There was a great response to the films and the campaign gained a wide reach across the creative industries in Malaysia. The films helped people see a positive side in quite uncertain times within the commercial film industry, and the playful feel of the claymation was the perfect solution to keep the films informative yet lighthearted.

Claymation 2D Puppet Skeleton: Directors Think Tank Malaysia

CREDITS

Client: Directors Think Tank
Creative Director: Sling
Film Director: Aiden Whittam
Puppets & Models: Aiden Whittam
Audio Production: Fuse Adventures in Audio