Building on the success of the award-winning “Barry the Platypus” ads, new campaign features CG creatures developed by MPC.
Little Frill, a frustrated frill-necked lizard and his housemate the cheeky tarsier are the latest stars of First Direct’s “Unexpected” brand campaign. Conceived by agency JWT London and directed by Outsider duo Dom & Nic, the new integrated campaign features CG creatures developed by MPC and builds on the success of the award-winning “Barry the Platypus” ads.
Shot on 35mm film around hipster hangout the Truman Brewery in East London, the spot follows the quirky CG character who finds frustration in poor customer service, and recommends First Direct bank as an antidote. MPC’s 3D team developed the Australian fauna, an intensive and detailed task due to the creatures' unconventional looks.
“Receiving the script for these unique creatures was intriguing to say the least -- none of us had ever seen a frill necked lizard, let alone built one in 3D!” said CG Supervisor Jon Park. “We created Little Frill from the ‘best bits’ of the lizards we studied, giving him his own particular neck pattern and face shape. Our creatures are designed to look physically real, but creatively take on human characteristics in their mannerisms and movements.”
Little Frill stands upright, which a real lizard naturally wouldn't be able to do. In a balancing act between human and lizard performances, the MPC team referenced footage of comedian Seann Walsh holding a giant phone that was recorded during his voiceover in order to manipulate the lizard body into a standing position for the animators.
Developing the tarsiers groom also proved to be a challenge, as their fur is dense in areas and sparse in others. Proprietary software Furtility was used to develop the slightly scraggly look.
Because the tarsier character doesn't speak, capturing details in her look were key to portraying her attitude. The tarsier’s eyes are naturally huge in comparison to the rest of their features (roughly the same size as their brains) and in the first shot they are seen in extreme close up, which required a lot of attention from the VFX team. Intricate textures and tears were added to enhance the eyes naturally watery appearance. In addition, specific attention was paid to the iris and the way light and shadow reacts to the surface. Adding almost imperceptible movements of the pupil and eyelids completed the realism.
“When the script is as good as this it’s easy for everyone to get excited and inspired, the only pressure was to make a worthy follow up to last year’s Platypus,” directors Dom & Nic said of the campaign. “I think we’ve achieved that and much more. The MPC team were right with us from the initial character design and development, taking on board our thoughts and bringing their own skills and ideas to that vision. The shoot was hectic as usual but with Jon [Park] supervising VFX we felt confident to improvise and adapt shots on location. Jon and the animation team really understood the idea of a human trapped in a lizard’s body and a tarsier DJ. Adam [Crocker] and the 2D team integrated the characters into the first direct black and white look seamlessly, graded impeccably again by Jean-Clément [Soret]. There was time pressure as usual but Dionne [Archibald] and the producers managed the task without any fuss. Another great job and a fantastic team throughout the process.”
Source: MPC
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
