Studio Short Film
THE BRIEF
We wanted to understand how traditional puppetering techniques could be used to animate an existing product and communicate a hands-on approach in a live-action space.
We tasked ourselves with the production of a 15 second short in social video format with detailed practical sets and lighting. Our creative aim was to demonstrate the product and its accessories in an extended universe, whilst remaining faithful to their original function and brand narrative.
OUR PROCESS
Having mapped out the action with storyboards and animatic, we designed and handcrafted a quaint farmhouse kitchen with attention to its rustic fixtures and fittings, in keeping with the romantic, nostalgic aesthetic of the product’s design. Fabrication overheads were reduced by 3D printing features such as plant pots, which were then hand finished.
Our lighting design was ‘bright summer morning’ inspired, to best highlight product details and set an airy, optimistic mood. To demonstrate the range of product accessories, our action concentrated on short, simple sequences of product features, animated with subtle puppetry in real time.
THE RESULTS
Live action puppetry provides an excellent means to connect with audiences in an authentic way with rapid turnaround. Whilst puppetry can be limited by comparison to other forms of practical animation, shooting in real time significantly reduces production overheads, allowing for multiple takes and reshoots without much additional planning and execution.
Just as stop motion, puppetry has an immediate and distinct sense of the human touch - a traditional, trusted medium that is ideal for brands that need to convey a sense of real world experience, such as the value of hands-on play.
CREDITS
Director: Emma Windsor
