SimEx Toucan Sam

The adventures of Toucan Sam continue in a 30 second spot made by SimEx
Digital Studios for Leo Burnett/Chicago. The spot, entitled "Frog/Idol,"
promotes Kellogg's Marshmallow Blasted Froot Loops.


"Frog/Idol" is a continuation of last summer's "Marshmallow Temple/Extreme
Adventure." In it, Toucan Sam falls through a temple floor into an
underwater cavern. There he discovers an enormous frog idol, and swims into
its mouth. Once he surfaces, a multitude of frog marshmallows jump towards
him.


The spot uses a number of techniques. First, SimEx combined live action
water elements with those created on the Avid Media Illusion. They also
used distortion plug-ins for the Media Illusion, as well as proprietary
shaders by Alias/Wavefront.


Jean Maxime Perramon directed the spot. Leo Burnett/Chicago's creative team
includes: Creative Director Peter Lohmeier, Senior Producer Ken Gilberg,
Senior Account Executive Gabrielle
Guimond, Account Executive Tolani Ogunleye, and Production Manager Veronica
Puc. SimEx Digital Studios's team includes Visual Effects Supervisor/Artist
Nick Bates, Animation Director Jean Maxime Perramon, Executive Producer
George Mendoza, Producer Krista Kilmer, Production Coordinator Christina
Cox. 3-D Animators were Jeff Chung, Alex Warner and Spencer Levy. Eric
Myers served as
Editor and Cel Animation Assistant Director. 2-D cel animation was
completed by Roberto Casales.


Kellogg has signed SimEx to produce two more spots, "Derelict" and "Howl,"
which will air this Spring.