Best of the Motion Industry 2009
Posted December 21st, 2009 / By Michael John in Animation, Curated, Events, Idents, Motion Graphics, Reels, Site Contests, Title Sequence
As we draw closer to the end of this year, I reflect on all the amazing works I’ve seen from creative professionals in the motion graphics industry. In this post I’ll be touching on a curated list of what I consider to be some of the most progressive, forward thinking, and well executed work from the motion graphics industry leading professionals. I’ll also be touching on progressive techniques that had a major impact on the motion graphics industry for 2009, as well as progressive digital & tangible tools that have helped, or changed the way motion graphics are produced.
Curated Motion Graphics Work
Starting off, I tried to consolidate a list of innovative & inspiring motion graphics work. It definitely wasn’t an easy task to try and pick any one piece over another, especially since everyone has a different opinion over what they would consider to be amazing. With that in mind, I’ve tried to balance my selection objectively, based on progression, forward thinking, originality, and execution. I hope you enjoy my selection, and continue to support Fuel Your Motionography well into the new year. Enjoy!
Prologue – OFFF 2009 Main Titles
OFFF 2009 Main Titles from Prologue! from OFFF on Vimeo.
Wow – Infinity
Infinity by: Wow from Colorcubic on Vimeo.
Esteban Diácono – Let Yourself Feel
let yourself feel. from Esteban Diácono on Vimeo.
Christopher Hewitt – Contraction
Contraction from Christopher Hewitt on Vimeo.
Sooz / Kultnation – All That Is Solid Melts Into The Air
All that is solid melts into the air. from Sooz on Vimeo.
Onesize – OFFF 2009 Sponsor Titles
OFFF 2009 Sponsor Titles from OFFF on Vimeo.
Rob Chiu – Else Mobile
Else Mobile (The Time Has Come) from Rob Chiu on Vimeo.
Alex Roman – T & S Teaser 2
T&S Teaser2 from Alex Roman on Vimeo.
BranitVFX – World Builder
World Builder from BranitVFX on Vimeo.
Tilt Shift Effect
If I had to say any certain technique had a major impact on the motion graphics industry this year, I would have to go with the tilt shift effect. The tilt shift effect is what ultimately gives real life footage, or more specifically, stop motion footage the illusion of smallness, or small windup toys. And what better way to convey this effect then through one of the industry’s pioneers of this technique, Mr. Keith Loutit [see below].
Keith Loutit – Bathtub IV
Bathtub IV from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.
Digital SLRs with HD Video
Ringing in at number three on my list of best contributions to the motion graphics industry in 2009 is Canon, and their Digital SLRs with HD Video capability. A lot of people still don’t realize, the moment Canon introduced the 5DmkII, it completely revolutionized how creative professionals in the mograph industry would produce work in the future. Not only are these dSLR cameras built very well, they’re also relatively affordable, all while shooting in HD video. Although, the real highlight of these dSLRs is the option to change out the lenses, at a fraction of the cost of a normal HD video camera. So you get all the power of Canon lenses (specifically Canon’s L series lenses), with the beauty of HD video. What more could you ask for?
Florent Porta – Tokyo Reality (Canon 5DmkII at work)
Tokyo Reality (Canon 5D MarkII) from Florent Porta on Vimeo.
Inksie Brand – 7D test film (Canon 7D at work)
7D Test Film from Inksie Brand on Vimeo.
Wesley Kandel – Palladia (Canon Rebel T1i at work)
Palladia from Wesley Kandel on Vimeo.
WANT MORE?
Colorcubic + Nueva Forma + Masmöd = Michael John.
Grab the Feed
This is an industry I need to pay more attention to! You’ve done an awesome job of giving me one more thing to be interested in — not that I have the time ;) but I’ll make it work. Looking forward to taking a closer look at all you posted!! Awesome job!!!! =)
by far the best post in FUEL BRAND BEST OF 2009 posts
wow man amazing video collections and truly inspiring stuff
thank you so much for posting all these great video
cheers and best of luck for 2010 :)
@Eden
I’m glad that you’re interested in the mograph industry. It’s definitely a whole other world of awesome. Peace ¥ :)
@naveed
Thank you so much for the kind words. :) I’m really glad you’re inspired, and I’m really glad you enjoy the videos. Hope you have a great 2010 as well. Peace ¥
Hey Michael, Thanks for including my film on your mograph list!
keep in touch!
Absolutely! :) Thanks for producing such beautiful work. And yes, let’s keep in touch. Happy New Year.
I’m surprised you’ve chosen so many similar videos. Although I can’t deny that they’re all excellent examples within a very narrow sample, you’ve made it look as if mograph in 2009 was dominated by (relatively) long-form VFX/type work.
What about: music videos; commercials; film title sequences and broadcast packages?
Similar videos? Dan, did you even watch these?
Lets go over your list about what I supposedly didn’t include, and maybe why I didn’t include it:
First off, apart from “broadcast packages”, I’d say that I’ve pretty much covered your list. If you cared to do a smidgen of research (all but 5 minutes of research) you would know this.
Let’s look at Else Mobile by Rob Chiu. There’s your commercial. But let’s not forget Infinity by Wow. If you actually did watch that whole video, you would notice that is a commercial for Citizen watches.
Now let’s move on to your film title sequences complaint… I didn’t include those, because personally, I’m tired of seeing that type of work get featured all the time. I thought instead that I would diversify my selection, by trying to steer away from the mainstream. I did, however, include title sequences to OFFF. One by Prologue, and another by Onesize, both of which are extremely well executed, but bare no similarities, (with the exception of type. But since it’s a title sequence, I can’t imagine any other way for them to convey that integral ingredient).
I’d also like to touch on your statement about how I’ve made it look as if mograph in 2009 was dominated by relatively long-form VFX/type work. Besides Alex Roman’s T & S Teaser 2 (which includes very minimal type work in the beginning), I can only count 3 videos out of the 13 that I have here that actually include type as a dominate element.
As far as complaining about long-form VFX. Is that actually a concern of yours? You’re actually going to list that as some sort of derivative ingredient when it comes to motion graphics? Ummm… this is Fuel Your Motionography. It’s all about visual effects, cinematography, and motion graphics. I don’t even really know how to dignify that with a response, but I’ll try…
Keith Loutit’s “Bathtub IV” doesn’t even have any type at all (with the exception of the end credits), and besides using tilt-shift effect and time lapse, he utilized no “long-form VFX.”
Same with Christopher Hewitt’s “Contraction”. With the exception of the ground breaking apart into uneven grids, it’s pretty much just an experimental short film.
And did you even bother watching Florent Porta’s “Tokyo Reality” short film?
What about Inksie’s 7D test film?
Neither of those use any visual effects.
And as far as Esteban Diácono’s work of “Let Yourself Feel”… For your information, that is a music video, for Ólafur Arnalds “Ljósið” » http://foundsongs.erasedtapes.com/
Sorry if I come off as rather defensive, but your statement was rather ignorant.
Cheers ¥
- m
This is an industry I need to pay more attention to! You’ve done an awesome job of giving me one more thing to be interested in — not that I have the time ;) but I’ll make it work. Looking forward to taking a closer look at all you posted!! Awesome job!!!! =)