In 2015, animation dominated a plethora of mixed media channels, from Instagram advertisements to music videos and beyond. While it was thought that NPR, Organic Influences, and CG-generated stop motions would lead in this year’s trending techniques, the use of many mixed styles seen in various animations made it difficult to pin point which trends were predominantly used. Nonetheless, our creatives at Village Print & Media were inspired by many of this year’s animation projects, along with ones from years past.
From their creative storytelling method to their use of abstract and experimental elements, check out a round up of animated shorts that inspired the work of VPM’s creatives in 2015, below:
An experimental piece, combining mixed styles of abstract animated elements with musical instruments.
Major Lazer, the electronic music group created by record producer Diplo, have created official lyric music videos using simplistic bold motion graphic techniques in their latest videos, like “Lean On” and “Be Together,” that are absolutely ingenious.
True Detective, Sean 2, Main Titles
While the critically acclaimed drama, True Detective, won an Emmy for its first season’s main titles, it is truly the second season’s intro that is, undoubtably, brilliant.
Nominated as 1 of 10 animations shortlisted for the 2015 Oscars and directed by college student, Seth Boyden, from California Institute of Arts, this piece uses hand-drawn media to tell the story of the life of a stone as it travels over the course of millennia, facing nature’s greatest obstacle: human civilization.
James Curran’s Slim Jim Studios
Animation Director James Curran created GIFS using clean shapes that are simple, playful, and undeniably, enjoyable to watch for major companies, including Lowes and Yahoo.
Modern and funky geometric animated elements overlap live action footage to create an electrifying rendition of a night stroll.
Combining animated elements with live action footage, this video was a prominent piece of inspiration for VPM’s animated short, More is More: Something for Everyone, as part of our Fall 2015 campaign.