Psyop for Smith & Nephew

Psyop has dropped a painterly new spot for Smith & Nephews (viewable in HD on Vimeo). Directed by Eben Mears and Mate Steinforth, who’s sharing some styleframes and mo-cap video on his site.

This is probably as dark and edgy as you can get for a company specializing in joint implants. Maybe a smart move on Smith & Nephew’s part? I don’t know. I do know that I still have a soft spot for the traditional ink flow technique. And with Pysop’s trademark transitions and expressive line work, you can’t go wrong. I like how the orange strokes actually serve a purpose to the brand.

This piece also has a very Byroglyphic feel to it that I like, which as far as I know could have been the inspiration for the style. There are also a few moments remind me of the first StreetFighter 4 Trailer.

Credits

Posted on 27 August 2008 by Babe	(20 votes, average: 3.75 out of 5)  Loading ... Comments (1)

Logan and PlayStation: Resistance 2 “Twisted History”

So far this week, video games are reigning supreme. If the onslaught of great work isn’t an indicator of advertising and marketing dollars shifting in favor of gaming, I don’t know what it is.

Coming off the heels of their intriguing work for Metal Gear Solid, Logan teamed up with PlayStation creatives to create an epic tale of a 20th that never happened. Here’s the scoop from the folks at PlayStation:

The brief was to create a promo outlining key moments in our ‘twisted’ history of the Resistance universe. Where most first-person shooters are based in either a Sci-fi or World War II context, Resistance blends the two with a story set in an alternative version of the 20th Century. In this reality WWII never happened and there was no Nazi enemy. Instead, humanity is threatened by brutal invaders, the Chimera. And the situation is looking desperate…

Logan’s creative director, Alexei Tylevich, got involved in the project fairly early on, working shoulder to shoulder with PlayStation to create the promo.

The transitions in this spot alone are worth repeat viewing, never mind the excellent pacing and novel mix of macro and micro imagery. One of the things I’ve always loved about Logan’s work is its improvisational quality, a fluidity that’s borne by confidence in design and a willingness to have a little fun. That fluidity is on fine display here.

Credits

Posted on 27 August 2008 by justin	(21 votes, average: 4 out of 5)  Loading ... Comments (3)

Shilo: Mercenaries 2 “Ca$h”

UPDATE: A directors cut with an alternate soundtrack can be found on Shilo’s site. Click on “Directors Cut” next to “Broadcast.”

Working with San Francisco agency Draftfcb for Electronic Arts, Shilo created “Ca$h” to promote the upcoming release of “Mercenaries 2: World in Flames.” It’s a fun spot that feels like it was created with the same wry grin the protagonist wears through most of the action.

Shilo did a great job controlling the pallete and textures to match US currency, as well as borrowing elements from bills to use as architectural and environmental props. The skull-shaped smoke is a great image, too. I could see that on the bottom of a skateboard deck. Or maybe tattooed on a bicep.

Credits

Posted on 27 August 2008 by justin	(22 votes, average: 3.41 out of 5)  Loading ... Comments (4)

Fox Sports Design: NASCAR “Engine City”

Fox Sports Design has a long history of raising the bar for broadcast promos. I’m not sure how this one slipped past our radar, but “Engine City,” released a couple months ago, definitely deserves a gander.

Teaming up with Paris-based BUF, Fox somehow managed to mix polish and grit in a spot that’s bristling with chrome and brimming with testosterone. The little oil splash details are a nice added touch, and the final pull-out at the spot’s conclusion feels like a fitting payoff.

Credits and boards on the Fox Sports Design project page.

Thanks to Jim for the tip, via Space Invaders.

Posted on 26 August 2008 by justin	(30 votes, average: 2.6 out of 5)  Loading ... Comments (5)

World of Warcraft:”Wrath of the Lich King” Main Title

This cinematic game title for “World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King” is an epic and powerful piece that wields some magnificent shots and some seriously beautiful animation. Monumental matte paintings and a dynamic sound track are the icing on cake.

Also some nice process and development artwork over at the game’s website! ENJOY!

UPDATE: We were wondering which studio was responsible for this, and it turns out Blizzard does all their own work in house. Pretty impressive! Thanks for the info in the comments, Blackbag!

Posted on 25 August 2008 by Greg	(47 votes, average: 4.45 out of 5)  Loading ... Comments (14)