Imaginary Forces puts ideas into motion. Solving complex problems with simple, beautiful, powerful solutions.
storytelling
'VS RULES' film for SK-II
SKI-II ‘VS Rules’ follows Mahina Maeda’s journey of learning and redefining beauty standards. Directed by Alan Williams in collaboration with WPP, the film pays homage to Maeda’s rich, cultural upbringing where the beauty of competition fuels her determination
for success at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Learn more about SK-II’s #ChangeDestiny Campaign
what we did.
‘VS Rules’ was an impactful narrative-driven character animation mixed
with cinematic live action. We collaborated on writing the script, shot the
live-action pieces with Mahina in the water, and the project focused heavily
on the authenticity of Japanese culture while maintaining an artistic flare
with the animation.
Check out a behind the scenes look on the filming of
‘VS Rules’ capturing Mahina in her element in Tahiti below.
director: alan williams
- producers: christine hernandez, jon hassell
- writers: leo savage, alan williams
- art direction: jake ferguson
- lead cel animator: jahmad rollins
- lead animator: henry chang
- lead design: ella lee
- character design: henry chang
- cg lead: jake ferguson
- cg technical direction: meng-yang lu
- cg modeling: kent floris
-
animators & compositors: jake ferguson, isaac taracks, kiyoon nam
henry chang, ned piyadarakorn, john dougherty - edited by jeremiah shuff, lexi gunvaldson
- vfx animation: russ gautier
- storyboards: tyler gibb
- title design & illustration: daae kim
- researcher & translator: sakuya mio
- portrait of mahina maeda painted by: ikenaga yasunari
- production coordinator: tucker reese
- executive producer: jon hassell
- executive creative director: peter frankfurt
93rd Academy Awards
The Oscars promo was based on an illustration by Temi Coker. Translating Coker’s illustrated Oscar statue into a 3D mixed-media space with varying realistic textures and simulations of paint exploding. The aesthetic and motion language of the launch promo was then extended into the graphics package and toolkit for the ABC telecast.
what we did.
We developed a visual system for the live virtual event and accompanying marketing elements. We took a stark departure from the typical moodier aesthetic of years past and surprised viewers with lightness and funky eclecticism that felt uniquely modern and relevant.
creative director: alan williams
- producer: jj gerber
- dp: christian haberkern
- art/design: temi coker
- 2d animators: alexis lim, miguel delcan
- 3d animators: nick woythaler, charlie proctor, patrick arrington, jose checa
- compositor: coche gonzalez
- editor: danielle white
- based on artwork created by temi coker
- coordinator: jake fritz
- head of production: melody alexander
Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine
main title for Showtime
The calculated construction of a Supervillain–that’s the powerful theme that documentary director Karam Gill explores in his Showtime series on Tekashi 6ix9ine. To introduce the premise and the show we constructed a lab in which we see the making of the infamous rapper.
what we did.
Rainbow test tubes. Chemical reactions. Toxic dyes. Electronic interventions. Questionable body molds. And a rat in an IV bag. We got it all on camera, with a couple visual effects to juice things up. Just another day at the lab.
director: karin fong
- producer: renee robson
- cinematographer: jr kraus
- designer/animator: henry chang
- editors: zach kilroy
- prop master, matthew eikelberger
- prop assistants: stephanie mace, brady peterson
- on-set vfx supervisor: kiyoon nam
- hand model: jessica shereshevsky
- design intern: phillip han
- colorist: beau leon, framestore
- production coordinators: jake fritz, jackson kerr
Black History Month “True Black Impact” Campaign for BET
We were lucky to partner with BET on part of their Black History Month “True Black Impact” campaign in which we honor the achievements and contributions Black people have made to shape society and culture.
what we did.
“This 3-spot campaign, Progress, Simple Things, and Movement, addresses how Black Impact is joyful. Black Impact is current. Black Impact affects us more than most people know and we are proud to help tell that story.” – Creative Director Kathy Liang
creative director: kathy liang
- producer: keith bryant
- art director: tim williams
- designers: kiyoon nam, tiffany shen, jonathan sangster
- animator: miguel delcan
- editor: danielle white
- coordinator: jake kirk
- head of production: melody alexander
Elements of a Supervillain
Interstitials for Supervillain: The Making of Tekashi 6ix9ine
Documentary director Karam Gill approached us with an audacious and darkly funny mission for his docu-series on Tekashi 6ix9ine: create a series of interstitials that would chronicle the manufacture of the rapper’s persona and fame, as if made in a lab.
We put the stitches in snitches
Imagining Tekashi as an action figure, we designed, shot, edited, animated and produced “Elements of a Supervillain,” nine segments that run through the Showtime series. Narrated by Giancarlo Esposito, each one focuses on a factor of the Supervillain equation: Trauma, Ego, Weaponry, to name a few. This is a lab where every move is calculated with precision, a volatile mix of chemistry . . . until what is created ultimately takes control.
Directed by Karin Fong
director: karin fong
- producer: renee robson
- cinematographer: jr kraus
- lead designer/animators: henry chang, james gardner
- editors: lexi gunvaldson, zach kilroy
- animator: merrill hall
- prop master: matthew eikelberger
- prop assistants: stephanie mace, brady peterson
- action figure designer: tim sepulveda
- on-set vfx supervisor/ animator: kiyoon nam
- hand models: rachael cohen, jessica shereshevsky
- design prep: kathy liang, ailis o’reilly
- design interns: phillip han, zach hartman
- colorist: beau leon, framestore
- production coordinators: jake fritz, jackson kerr
Identity for NFL Network
The NFL Network wanted a fresh take on the traditional sports graphic that’s more inline with their modern and premium approach to the brand.
what we did.
We created bursts of colors that represent the NFL’s 32 teams. As we fly through multiple team colors we reveal a logo of epic scale that captures all the colors and energy of the NFL teams.
creative director: tosh kodama
- producer: ryan burcham
- art director: brandon savoy
- animators: brandon savoy, alejandro robledo, jan sládečko
- designer: brandon savoy, henry chang, isabell hacker
- flame artist: eric mason
- design intern: eddie livingstone
- production coordinator: jake fritz
- head of production: melody alexander
- we do...
- branding
- strategy
- live-action
- vfx
- editorial
- animation
- original content
- experiential
- design
