Google Small Business Week
Short series for Google’s International Small Business Week
When the odds are stacked against them, local heroes of small businesses come to the rescue for their communities. In our animated short series for Google’s International Small Business Week, we created the origin stories of three small businesses taking on their communities biggest challenges. Whether it’s planting the seeds of a sustainable tomorrow, weathering the storms of wonder wheels or knocking out naysayers in the fight for women’s empowerment, small business owners are proof that not all heroes wear capes.
what we did
Shining a light on the superpowers of small business owners, we pulled from anime and graphic novels, imagining the entrepreneurs as heroes. We began by interviewing the owners, concepting both their powers and foes to create the narratives. Using 4 different animation techniques along with the narration and music by recording artist Tobe Nwigwe, it becomes clear grit and purpose-driven work is at the core of running a business.
credits
- director: karin fong
- executive producer: tiffani manabat
- senior producer: nicky maser
- art directors: henry chang, kathy liang
- editor: lexi gunvaldson
- character animation director: jerry o'flaherty
- production coordinator: jackson kerr
- cg lead: henry chang
- 3d design/animation: faraz abassi, eric demeusy, derek friesenborg,
steve galvez, james gardner, merrill hall, jesse jones, chris meek, tyler mele,
pedro murteira, alex rupert, kevin sanchez, max strizich, dave weinstock - modelers: krista albert, shihan barbee, kintan chauhan, justin diamond
- rigging: nico sanghrajka
- 2d design leads: justin harder, grant lau
- 2d design: nguyen dong, tomoki echigo, jake ferguson, kent floris,
kathy liang, kris sharabinskaia - 2d + cel animation: carlos enciso, taik lee, melody shih
- additional editorial: zach vandlik, lin wilde
- storyboard artists: julian bishop, tyler gibb, anson jew, gordon kljucec
- agency partner: omelet