The production of a series of commercials for the SKOLL brand was a comprehensive project covering all stages of animation production—from concept development and storyboarding, through the creation of the visual design, to the final animation and post-production. The campaign consisted of a series of 25-second spots, and its goal was to create dynamic, visually lighthearted videos that would present the brand’s products in an unconventional way and set it apart from the competition.
Storyboard and Concept
We begin every project by developing a script and creating a visual concept. At this stage, we produced storyboards that outlined the flow of the entire narrative and the placement of individual shots. Based on the preliminary illustrations, we also created animatics, which allowed us to define the spot’s rhythm, transitions between scenes, and the placement of furniture in the animation. This made it possible to verify the entire narrative and make necessary changes even before production began.
Skoll storyboard
Styling Development
Once the storyboards have been approved, let’s move on to developing the visual elements of the project. We’ve opted for a minimalist style based on vector illustrations created using the line art technique, along with a limited color palette that incorporates the company’s accent colors. 3D renders of the furniture were integrated into the illustrative surroundings, creating a contrast between the simplified style of the depicted world and the highly detailed products. This naturally drew the viewer’s attention to the furniture, which was the main focus of the ad.
Combining Different Visual Techniques
One of the main goals of the project was to combine several visual techniques into a cohesive whole. The spot was based on vector illustrations, which formed the backgrounds and most of the set design elements. SKOLL products were presented as 3D models rendered as cut-out PNG images, which allowed them to be freely used in the animation.
An additional element consisted of live-action shots filmed in a studio against a green screen. After filming, the footage was keyed, and the isolated characters were composited into the pre-designed illustrative world. Careful adjustment of the scale, perspective, and animation of individual elements resulted in a cohesive composition, despite the use of materials from different sources.
Animation and Compositing
Once all the elements were prepared, the animation phase began. The characters’ dynamic movements, smooth camera transitions, and animated waves built the energy of the entire commercial, while simultaneously drawing the viewer’s attention to the featured products.
In the final stage, all elements were combined through compositing. Color correction, lighting effects, and fine-tuning of details resulted in a visually cohesive final product ready for broadcast on both television and movie theater screens.
Below, we present the final result of our work—the first commercial created for the SKOLL brand. The video demonstrates how illustrative styling, 3D product renders, and live-action footage were combined into a cohesive piece designed for broadcast on television and in movie theaters.
Skoll series
Finally, it’s worth noting that the animation mentioned in the article is part of a series of commercials produced for the Skoll brand. We’ve already filmed one of the episodes—featuring actors—at the skatepark in Swarzędz. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the park’s manager for allowing us to film at this beautiful facility. Thank you to the Swarzędz Sports and Recreation Center.
Here’s the final result of the commercial:
