Imaginary Forces puts ideas into motion. Solving complex problems with simple, beautiful, powerful solutions.
storytelling
Lisey's Story main title for Apple TV+
Directors Karin Fong and Osbert Parker teamed up to orchestrate a duet of marionettes, creating a hauntingly tender main title sequence for a series adapted from the Stephen King novel.
what we did.
At the suggestion of series director Pablo Larraín, we dove into the world of puppetry to conceptualize a story that would convey the inner life of Lisey, played by Julianne Moore. Finding metaphor in the strings, we designed the two main characters as marionettes, combining classical craft and modern technology. By working with master puppeteers, we developed a live-action performance that we then shot, edited and enhanced with vfx to underscore the emotions and transformations that unfold.
directors: karin fong, osbert parker
- cinematographer: michael bernard
- puppeteers: tyler stuart, jeff speetjens
- puppet fabrication: michael curry design
- prop stylist: matthew eikelberger
- edited by lexi gunvaldson
- lead designer/modeler/animator: henry chang
- animators: merrill hall, russ gautier
- storyboard: justin quinlan
- vfx support: brandon savoy
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additional design: kathy liang, fernando lazzari,
jake ferguson, isabell hacker - interns: kayley wang, eugene hyun
- –
- producer: renee robson
- production coordinator: jake fritz
Euro sports package for ESPN
Paint, pencil sketches and cartography connect the teams and countries to create a vibrant, dimensional visual system for ESPN’s UEFA coverage in 2016 and the 2020(1) refresh.
what we did.
Back in 2016, creative director Jeremy Cox and team created an opening sequence with a dynamic moving map of Europe, snapshots of competing countries, and CG statues of the world’s top players frozen in action. Over 200 broadcast elements were created in partnership with ESPN’s in-house creative team for the month-long tournament. With the 2020(1) broadcast package refresh, creative director Jens Mebes continued the dynamic gold, painterly aesthetic through the familiar etchings of world maps and statuettes.
and then...
This 2016 behind the scenes video takes you through how it all initially came together. Watch below!
2016 creative director: jeremy cox
2020 creative director: jens mebes
- producer: will arnold
- art director: theo daley
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designers: theo daley, maggie tsao, henry chang, patty wong,
hannah sung, jan nygren, michael cina -
animators: henry chang, sekani solomon, seth minnich, adam tanner,
nathan goodell, ned piyadarakorn, patty wong, hannah sung,
dave rogers, cyprian sadlon, mark thompson, chris vincola, pat arrington - paint wrangler: max strizich
- systems management/render wrangler: matt carroll
- coordinator: krista templeton
- executive producer: jon hassell
- –
- 2020(1) Refresh
- designer/animator: kiyoon nam, charlie proctor, merrill hall, deandre moore
- producer: ryan burcham
- coordinator: jake kirk
'VS RULES' film for SK-II
SKI-II ‘VS Rules’ follows competitive surfer 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 splashes of cinematic live action. We collaborated on writing the script, shooting the live-action pieces with Mahina Maeda 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
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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 design language of the launch promo was then extended into the graphics package and promotional 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 a lightness and funky eclecticism that felt uniquely modern and culturally 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 for their Black History Month “True Black Impact” campaign in which we honor the achievements and continual contributions Black people have made to shape our 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
- we do...
- branding
- strategy
- live-action
- vfx
- editorial
- animation
- original content
- experiential
- design
