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Studio AKA Director Phillip Hunt Helps Launch ‘Perfect Surprise’

New holiday short adapted from Three Ireland’s much-loved Christmas story of ‘The Girl and The Cloud’ employs a blend of 2D and 3D animation.

In 2014, Dublin agency Boys & Girls helped Three Ireland tell the heart-warming Christmas story of one little girl's “Perfect Surprise,” when her Dad brought her back her very own snow cloud. This year's campaign continues that story and imagines what came next -- in an animated storybook form.

This charming two-minute, 50-second short film illustrates the ensuing friendship between Anna and her cloud ever since that memorable Christmas morning. For a while everything is all fun & games, but as time passes and seasons change, Anna realizes that her cloud is unhappy as the weather gets warmer. As Christmas approaches, Anna's only wish is to return her friend home.

This heartfelt spot was adapted & directed by Studio AKA's Philip Hunt from an original story by the team at Boys & Girls, and produced in record time working with a specialist crew assembled at Red Knuckles under lead artists Mario Ucci & Rick Thiele. A dedicated group of animators brought the characters to life within a look which drew directly from original artwork by designers Olga Stern & Amandine Pecharman.

Using a projection texturing method to create a unique look somewhere between 2D & 3D, the production team worked round the clock to blend the 2D artwork with 3D CGI characters, and the final touches were provided by composer Denis Kilty and the wonderful tones of narrator Ciaran Hinds.

The short film will air on RTE and social media in the run-up to Christmas, and will be available to view, in full, online. A 60-second and 40-second cut-down will also run on TV throughout November and December.

Source: Studio AKA