Imaginary Forces puts ideas into motion. Solving complex problems with simple, beautiful, powerful solutions.
storytelling
"VS MACHINES" film for SK-II
“VS MACHINES”is a tribute film to Japan’s first ever Olympic badminton doubles Gold medalists Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsutomo. Directed by Alan Williams in collaboration with WPP, the film explores a futuristic dystopia where competition is the main reason for existence. Learn more about SKII Beauty Is #NoCompetition Campaign
what we did.
“Our main creative challenge was to take the all-too-common reality of toxic expectations faced by all women – not just Takahashi and Matsutomo – and repackage it in a way that made the viewer see it with new eyes and truly feel it. Through the poetic language of human-turned-robots and a towering kaiju, I feel our team did just that. I couldn’t be more excited to share this with the world.” – Alan Williams, Director
A bespoke soundtrack was created by Eclectic Sounds who composed and designed the track as the story was developed.
director: alan williams
- producers: christine hernandez, jon hassell, aleen kim, jared libitsky
- writers: leo savage, alan williams
- lead design & art direction: russ gautier
- cg technical direction: russ gautier, meng-yang lu
- lead animator : james gardner
- cg character design : kelton cram
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animators & compositors : james gardner, jake ferguson, henry chang, blaise hossain
matt shadis, jesse bafia, daniel onassis - character animation : evan mayfield, matt parent
- designer & animator: sekani solomon
- edited by jeremiah shuff, lexi gunvaldson
- vfx animation: russ gautier
- storyboards: tyler gibb
- researcher & translator : sakuya mio
- production coordinator: tucker reese
- executive producer: jon hassell
- executive creative director: peter frankfurt
I'll Be Gone in the Dark main title for HBO
The series explores one woman’s obsessive search into the world of the Golden State Killer, a predator who terrorized California in the 1970s and 1980s. Based on the book, “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” refers to the words he would say to his victims.
what we did.
We created the title sequence that takes the viewer through a distinctively suburban neighborhood, shadow and light sweep through the frames, the audience begins to feel the sinister sense of being watched. The turning corners and light appears through a door ajar, we begin to question whose perspective we are seeing through the eyes of – a violent, unrelenting predator, or the mind of Michelle McNamara herself?
creative director: karin fong
- designers/animators: merrill hall, henry chang
- designer: kathy liang
- editor: lexi gunvaldson
- design intern: ailis o’reilly
- design intern: eryn hsu
- producer: rachael cohen
- production coordinator: jake kirk
Main Title for Bill & Ted Face the Music
It’s been 20 years since their last Bogus Journey, but the Wyld Stallyns’ are back! For the opening sequence, we show Bill & Ted’s journey over the last 2 decades, and set the stage for one more excellent adventure.
what we did.
“Together with the filmmakers, we asked ourselves how we could make a sequence that feels real and true to their musical journey – something as authentic as any music doc out there. And so began a most excellent journey into the treasure trove of pop culture that is the 90s to the present, designing everything from album art to articles to answer the question that we all want answered: Where Are They Now?” Karin Fong, Creative Director.
creative directors: karin fong & grant lau
- producer: rachael cohen
- editors: zach kilroy, lin wilde
- designers/animators: brandon savoy, rob slychuk, timothy williams
- designer: isabell hacker
- flame artist: rod basham
- design interns: zach hartman, gabe nadel
- production coordinator: jake kirk
Originals identity for HBO Max
HBO Max wanted an originals identity that nods to the brand’s iconic “static” in a fresh, vibrant way. This mnemonic precedes a roster of Max Originals on the new streaming platform.
what we did.
Working closely with HBO’s brand team we explored concept, design and audio development before producing the final animation.
creative director: karin fong
- producer: steve garfinkel
- designer/animator: ivan cruz, brandon savoy
- animator/compositor: jesse jones
- coordinator: jackson kerr
Identity for Netflix Originals
Beams of colored light travel through space and converge to form the logo signifying the diversity of Netflix’s vibrant catalogue. With Hans Zimmer’s original score this opening transports the audience to their next theatrical film experience.
what we did.
Working closely with the Netflix brand team we first developed the theatrical logo. After its successful premiere at the Venice Film Festival in front of Alfonso Cuarón’s “Roma,” the scope of the project expanded to include the platform; resulting in a unified identity preceding all original Netflix content.
and then...
Netflix’s global brand expression was born. The identity now lives on social, print, and the platform for all originals, and continues in its original form – in theaters around the globe.
creative director: michelle dougherty
- producer: keith bryant
- cg supervisor: meng-yang lu
- lead animator: evan sexton
- animators: christoph gabathuler, lindsay bohn, miro klasinc
- designers: evan sexton, wes yang, pete mcdonald, peggy oei, arisu kashiwagi
- design phase producers: tammy kohan, keith bryant
- design phase associate producer: rachel cohn
- design phase designers: christoph gabathuler, stephan burle, josh childers
- design phase animators: adam webber, cassandra krul, eric demeusy, cisco torres
- design intern: bara kown
- executive producer: jon hassell
- head of production: franceska bucci
Hillary title for Hulu
How do you introduce one of the most admired and vilified women in the world? You tap into filmmaker Nanette Burstein’s vast archive of personal and press photos, stack them in chronological order, and let them play!
what we did.
With much of Hillary Clinton’s life spent in the political spotlight, we featured photos that provide a more dynamic portrayal of her true life. Flipping through archival photos we see Hillary as student, leader, mother, wife, senator, and of course, as presidential candidate. A few famous photobombs are sprinkled in for good measure.
creative directors: karin fong & harshit desai
- producer: jared libitsky
- animators: james gardner, rob slychuk
- editor: lin wilde
- coordinator: nicole gutzmann
- head of production: melody alexander
- executive producer: wandie kabule
- we do...
- branding
- strategy
- live-action
- vfx
- editorial
- animation
- original content
- experiential
- design
