Opera is one of the oldest and most artful forms of storytelling, so Awe-Full was grateful to get the opportunity to work with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. The project was spearheaded by Nuance, a fantastic little agency founded by Dave Thornhill. Nuance collaborated with the opera to create all the promotional materials for the 2017-2018 season of performances. When it came time to produce the television spots Awe-Full was brought into the mix. 

The animation was inspired by some of the quirky cutout animation style used in Monty Python movies, but we wanted it to have a subtlety and polish as well. Without the aid of a voiceover, the visuals had to tell the story. It was some of the most fun I have had animating in a long time. 

We created two 15 second spots for each performance, and they ran back-to-back in a 30-second time slot. They were also used online and in social channels. The full team involved included Dave Thornhill as the Creative Director, Aaron Weidner and Adam Elwell contributed copywriting and design respectively. And Stacey Cooper was the producer. 

The campaign stood out amongst other televisions spots and succeeded in lightening and modernizing the opera for a new generation. And the spots were also rewarded at the recent AAF-KC AAA awards show. The campaign received a Judges Citation and Gold in Branded Content and Gold in local TV campaign. 

Awe-Full has just completed a whirlwind tour of the country creating content for a Gatorade experiment called #TheDebut. The Debut is a twitter live-stream of 8 high school basketball games involving the best teams and top-ranked talent. 

Gatorade's digital agency, VML,  partnered with Intersport and Twitter to pull off the events. NBA 2K TV host Rachel Demita and former NBA players Baron Davis and Nate Robinson were the commentators on-location for each game. Awe-Full teamed up with VML to create promotional materials, same day edits, and action-packed highlight reels. 

A typical day involved included arriving in a new city, scouting the school, shooting interviews and b-roll footage, and then editing a Halftime Spotlight segment that would play that evening. Eventually, we got smart and started capturing footage the day before and bought ourselves a few more hours of edit time. Naturally, every school came with its own set of challenges and curveballs. The star player is suddenly unavailable, or the location is now inaccessible, or the coach can't arrive until an hour before game time.  Every time we battled something new but thanks to a killer crew from Hunt + Capture, quick thinking by VML creatives, and our mad fast animation/edit skills, we always had something ready for halftime. 

After each game was complete, usually the next day while traveling to another location, we cut together a highlight reel of the previous game. An introductory teaser and video recap were also created to bookend the event. Add in the exclusive interview piece with Jabari Parker on his return to Simeon High School, and you have 19 unique pieces of video content. Please enjoy a few of them here.

We love football. We love defense, especially sacks. And Big Macs are pretty solid too. This spot has all of these things and more. This promotion for McDonald's and Husker's Football tells a story of the pre-game pump-up and the excitement of the upcoming football season. 

A total blast to edit, color correct, and animate. Working with great source from Austin Walsh Studio and sound design from 740 sound this piece was destined to be a hit. 

Awe-Full was brought in to help VML market a new product created by their client, Gatorade, and their partnership with Spotify. The product is called Amplify, and it generates personalized playlists with songs from Spotify's library, based on your Spotify listening history, which are energetic enough to fuel a workout. The playlists take into consideration the danceability,  acoustics, energy and loudness of a track.

With that level of science behind the product, VML wanted to bring a technology based feel across on top of the usual gritty sports branding associated with Gatorade. It started with some fantastic imagery captured by Austin Walsh Studio. Awe-Full was on set to provide VFX direction and discuss edit decisions. The post process always runs cleaner when editors and technicians can be on set during production. 

From here Awe-Full worked with producers and creatives at VML to dial in the edit and motion graphics to deliver both a 30 and 15-second version of the video that would spur the Amplify marketing campaign. 

Awe-Full enjoy’s doing things that have never been done before. That’s the beauty of design, you can go crazy and try something new and nobody gets hurt. Unless you’re designing way-finding of some type, that could be dangerous. 

So naturally we were happy to help Barkley break new ground with the world’s first Periscope auction. Awe-Full created the animation for the launch video and edited all the prize videos with footage shot by Austin Walsh Studio. You can read more about the event on Barkley’s site.

ROLES:
Creative Director
VFX Director
Animator
Designer
Compositor

There could not have been a more perfect project to help launch Awe-Full out of the gates. Hint called on us to develop the creative treatment for SKAR agency client, Nebraska Lottery. The treatment presented was ambitious for the timeline and budget, but we had a goal of cutting through all the holiday clutter to reach. 

Winning the project was great, but it was straight to work. This was one of those jobs with very little margin for error. Luckily it was also one of those rare jobs in which things just clicked. Every project has bumps and this one was not immune, but things really fell into place. The agency and client were fantastic to work with, heck even the renders finished on schedule, that never happens. 

The result was a piece of work that generated tons of client praise and pride among the artists involved in its creation. Projects like this are the reason we come to work every day and what we are talking about when we say stories designed to wow. 

Whether you believe MJ is the GOAT or not, we all had a time when we wished we could “be like Mike.”  Now you can own some sweet gear to celebrate those days and celebrate the partnership between Gatorade and Jordan. Awe-Full partnered with Austin Walsh Studio and VML to create this promotion that included some crazy cold overnight shots using a special ARRAY camera system.

ROLES:
Director
VFX Director
Story Development
Design
Animation

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

The PUMA brand is all about joy. So, when the company turned to us to help launch the high-performance product line PUMA Cell, we knew we had to celebrate that core value. And who better to communicate that message than world-renowned sprinter Usain Bolt?

Working closely with the performance marketing team at PUMA, we conceptualized and executed an edgy, upbeat spot that blends live action with motion graphics, telling the story of PUMA Cell and how it empowers customers to pursue a path of joy — no matter what they come up against. PUMA was so happy with the end result that this piece now lives in retail stores around the world.

It's summertime. Sun, fun, and the kids are home from school. For most of us, that means cocktails. Mucho cocktails. Tropicana is here to help with new drink recipes. 

Awe-Full handled all the post-production for the video content for the social campaign developed by VML. 

Awe-Full recently partnered with Austin Walsh Studio to create a new television spot and web video for Kansas City agency Will & Grail and their client, Central Bank. We love when agencies tap us early so we can craft the story and solve problems together. This one was crazy fun.

Snippets from some of our favorite 3D work from the last year. A couple of oldies but goodies thrown in as well. Music track is The Sideshow from the latest DJ Shadow album The Mountain Will Fall. 

The work comes from three sources: 
1. Work done while running Awe-Full
2. Work generated by the uber talented friend of Awe-Full Bret Walters
3. Pieces completed while working as the Creative Director for Hint

Thanks to all the artists and producers who helped these things come to life so we could slice them up into little chunks and remix them into the 2016 3D Showreel. 

ROLES:
Creative Director
Writer
Director
VFX Director
Animator
Designer

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. 

The Kansas City Ballet originally approached Hint to simply create video content around their all new production of The Nutcracker. The relationship developed until Hint became their partners for the entire campaign. I was tasked with the creative management of the project along with diving into some of the asset creation. We started with some lofty goals that included selling every single available ticket to the new show, then we got to work. 

A creative strategy and eventual anthem for the campaign was Imagine Again. With the all new production we were asking parents to witness their children’s wonder, watch it ignite and feel the glimmer once more as their own childhood dreams returned. We all dreamed big once, and we still can. This premise was a blast to work with throughout the whole of the campaign. From postcards to billboards, brochures, online ads, and print ads we showed the imagination of children coming alive through artistic renderings of the primary nutcracker characters.

The results have been fantastic and it will be nearly impossible to find a seat to this completely reimagined show this holiday. Included hear are a few samples of work from the campaign.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Story Development

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

LinkedIn knew that its former Who's Viewed Your Profile video was a bit on the predictable side. So, when they added a couple new features to the tool, they turned to us for a creative update.

We proposed a complete departure — taking what was once a step-by-step instructional video and developing it into an engaging animated story. We shifted the focus of the video, using a character-driven narrative to highlight the unique value of the tool. Although it was a new style for the brand, it’s been racking up views and positive shares.

ROLES:
VFX Director
3D Animation
Compositing

Created with agency partner, Barkley while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

The Missouri Lottery has raised over 4 billion dollars for education in the state of Missouri since 1994. But no one knew about this good deed. So we partnered with Barkley to create a campaign that would raise awareness about the wide-reaching and positive effects of lotto revenue.

The collaboration culminated in a heart-warming story that celebrates the lottery’s impact on the lives of children across the state. Combining live-action footage with digital effects, the story feels true to life yet has an other-worldly quality at the same time.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Experience Design
Story Development
Design
3D Animation
Compositing

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

This project utilized all aspects of Hint's resources -- including the production -- shooting the five performing artists at high speed. It also included all post production elements -- adding animation and motion graphics, editorial and finishing, color correction and programming - to create a once in a lifetime experience for supporters and sponsors. The visuals were projected across three walls -- and onto the roof of the Kauffman Center. The event provided an immersive visual and auditory experience for the patrons. The pace of the movement on the walls were tied to the music in the room as sensors were attached to all the musicians in the band.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Experience Design
Story Development

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

Hint was challenged with designing a one-of-a-kind experience for patrons of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art at their annual gala event. This year the title was “Create the Night: POP” so the theme of pop art dominated the stories we decided to tell.

The night began with a reception in the Bloch lobby where Hint created an interactive projection background paired with a PHHHOTO PRO photo booth. Guests could design their own background by simply moving around, capture an instant moving picture, upload it to the site and share on social media platforms. All in a matter of seconds.

The big surprise of the night was a five and a half minute animated journey projection mapped to the walls of Kirkwood Hall. Hint wrote a story about a single zip-tone from a Roy Lichtenstein painting, and her struggles to find her way back home. Along the way she travels through the works of several famous pop artists. Inspired by these pieces, Hint recreated much of the art through tedious hand and digital techniques. Then painstakingly set hundreds of thousands of keyframes to bring it to life.

Telling a story spread over three walls to a dispersed audience with lots of site-line issues was no easy task. To design the best experience possible a 3D model of the room was constructed allowing the artists to make decisions on where to place key actions.

Hint partnered with Substream music + sound design to build a unique soundscape for every environment our character would encounter. And Harvest Productions worked to get the projection and sound systems installed, lined up, and running without a hitch.

The story made the guest forget about the chairs they were sitting in or even the food in front of them. It transported them to another place, helped reinforce their appreciation for the arts, and reminded them there is no place like home.

ROLES:
Director
Story Development
Animation
Design

Created as in-house side project while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Blue Balls Blues site:

Hint partnered with a group of creatives to create two characters to carry an important message through animation, design and music. Rusty and Vern are a pair of balls on a mission. A mission to save mankind from big, bulging problems. Hailed as the rallying cry for any testicle that’s ever suffered from man’s eternal struggle to remember condoms, their debut single has critics buzzing, ladies applauding, and guys singing a different tune. This is no labor of love for ol’ Rusty and Vern. This, like so many blues greats before them, is the only way they could find release.

blueballsblues.com

The wow is why Awe-Full exists, but it begins with stories. Consider all the movies, novels, TV shows, music, sports, video games, and social media feeds that we enjoy each day. All these things are based on storytelling. Story is an oddly powerful and uniquely human phenomena, and little else saturates our lives so intensely. 

If you want to connect with people you better start with a story. Awe-Full is here to help identify and tell the good ones. Story is an addiction after all, and only the premium stuff will deliver the fix we desire. Strong design thinking and observation of the finest details has proven a solid combination for extracting that moment. That one thing in each story that makes it memorable. The one that makes you pass it on. The one that fills you with awe.

OceanX is an experienced team of business innovators, technologists, and marketers with decades of expertise in direct-to-consumer subscription and membership programs for physical goods. So basically, all those great membership box brands, well, OceanX is the backbone they are built on. 

Awe-Full has been partnering with OceanX for over a year on all sorts of marketing materials to help this start-up quickly grow into a monster company. Featured here is a video introduction to the brand we produced to live on the front page of the OceanX website. Special thanks to LABL for additional creative direction and script writing. This video was also brought to life with the production assistance of Novella Films.

ROLES:
Creative Direction

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

As confusion around content ownership continues to bubble up online and elsewhere, LinkedIn wanted to let people know where it stands on the issue. So, the company updated its Content Ownership terms to make sure its members are protected. They came to us to help communicate that message in a fun and lighthearted way.

Using the company’s core value of “members first” to frame the story, we crafted an engaging narrative that outlines the big-picture problem as well as LinkedIn’s solution. To create a warm and approachable feel, we chose a stop-motion style for the video. With Cinema 4D and V-Ray, we rendered realistic paper textures and built the animation at 12 frames per second.

All of it came together in a friendly video that highlights LinkedIn’s personality and emphasizes its commitment to members.

ROLES:
Creative Direction

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

Cinema KC, a nonprofit showcase and launch pad for local filmmakers, needed a full broadcast show package, including a 60-second opener and other promotional components. But they didn’t want just any package, they wanted one that clearly reflected their mission of enabling success.

We knew the package, like any good film, had to contain certain elements: visual beauty, strong symbolism and an engaging narrative. So we based it on the creative process filmmakers go through. With compelling animations and dramatic colors, we guide the viewer through the 3 stages of creation: from initial concept to growth to completion.

Cinema KC was so pleased with the package that we also worked with them to edit 13 episodes of Season 1 and 13 episodes of Season 2.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Animation
Design
 

Technology is transforming how we experience and interact with the world around us. And, as the lines between digital and physical continue to blur, it becomes more difficult to decipher what is truly real.

Using this brain-teaser as inspiration, we set forth to reinvent the web and create a first-ever online experience for our audiences. After much deliberation, demolition and many pounds of metal, we built a real (meaning, standing-on-top-of-our-building real!) website that delivered live-streaming content.

For one year, The New Real website weathered the elements, blending the physical and digital worlds in a way that’s never been done before. The experiment was part steel, part code and all passion.

2014 winner, FWA (Favorite Website Awards) Shortlist

Like any good website, we knew The New Real needed an awesome design. So that’s where we started. With a computer-controlled router, we milled out high-density polyethylene sheets, turning them into striking 3D sculptures that formed the site’s structure. Those sculptures were then mounted to welded steel frames with mounts for lights and cameras. After adding five high-end HD-streaming security cameras, fitted with special lenses to limit distortion, we were in business.

Next, we turned our focus to the background, knowing we had to achieve the right balance between sky and city. Angling the cameras presented a problem: if we tilted the panels to match the angle, we lost the sun and shadows; if we left them straight up, the panels looked skewed on camera. Our solve? Manufacturing panels with a built-in distortion to counteract the angle of the lens. It was mathematical magic — and it worked.

During the whole process, we took many steps forward and a few back, finding that true innovation comes with setbacks along the way. But we pushed through. Just like we always will.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Story Development
Animation
Design

Created as a side project while working for Barkley:

The very fairy-tale like animated music video for HaHa Tonka's 'Caney Mountain'. Taken from the album "Buckle In the Bible Belt", the story is loosely based upon one particular mythological story taking place both nearby, and on the titular Ozarkian mountain.

ROLES:
VFX Director
Creative Direction
Animation

Created with agency partner, Swanson-Russell while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

Runza, a regional fast-food sandwich chain, was looking to set itself apart from competitors. We partnered with Nebraska agency Swanson Russell to help make it happen.

In our research, we learned that Runza had bypassed industry trends to focus on making real homemade food, opting for quality over quantity. Clearly, this was our main message. To spread the word, we developed a storyline that wove together five spots and a handful of promotions, all featuring improv actor Tim Ryder from Chicago’s Second City comedy group. With scripts from Swanson Russell and a bit of improvisation, we created funny and charming responses to sample customer questions about such things as breakfast menus and late-night hours. Quirky hand-drawn illustrations and animations added depth to Ryder’s character by sharing his humorous thought process with viewers.

We handled all aspects of the project: production, directing, shooting, editing, color-correcting, animating and more. Whew, talk about being ready for a sandwich.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Experience Design
Story Development
Design
3D Animation
Compositing

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. 

The animations posted here are only the background loops that played on a huge 80' x 20' projection screen behind the models as they walked down the runway. Motion graphics were then added and a live video stream of the models was inset over the animation. Please come back soon to see the case study and see these videos in context. 

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Story Development
Compositing

Created with agency partner, Salva O'Renick while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

Central Bancompany, a regional bank with locations across the midwest, was launching a new product: the free Cardinals Checking account, which targets fans of the St Louis baseball team with its cobranded appearance and fun perks. Hoping to raise awareness of the new offering, they turned to us.

Collaborating with Salva O’Renick, an interactive agency in Kansas City, we developed a three-spot campaign that was versioned for six different banks within Central Bancompany’s network. With our help, the agency developed a tongue-in-cheek script and suggested we bring the Cardinals logo to life. Combining detailed illustration, traditional animation and 3D art, we transformed the red birds into talking, moving and thinking creatures — all within the confines of the original logo.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Design

Created with agency partner, Barkley while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

Ranking as the best product launch in 25 years qualifies as a pretty good pay day, in our minds. For both our clients, our partners and for us.

That’s where we landed when we collaborated with Barkley to develop the new Missouri Lottery spot. Using the vivid gem-facet graphics that appear on the Lucky 7s Playbook as inspiration, Hint creatives conceptualized and produced a low-poly 3D look for the engaging commercial.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Animation
Design

Created with agency partner, Barkley while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

On The Border wanted to position itself as more than just a restaurant; the company wanted to be seen as a great gathering place too. Partnering with Barkley, a KC-based advertising agency, we went beyond the initial request for a simple re-edit to develop a series of motion-graphic spots that celebrated the brand’s fun, social nature.

Working with On The Border’s existing food footage, we designed a series of modular animated commercials that could be easily adjusted to create new spots. By pairing multiple smaller-scale food shots with motion graphics, we increased flexibility and were able to show more eye-catching food combinations in each spot. And, really, who doesn’t want to see more tacos in their day?

ROLES:
Director
VFX Director
Animation
Design

Created with agency partner, Barkley while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

Working with Barkley, a KC-based ad agency, Sprint had created a strong brand essence video intended to tell the story of the brand to potential clients. But they wanted to take it a step further by refocusing the narrative to help them sell to the B2B market. On a super tight budget.

Barkley had already sketched out most of the idea, so we helped visualize how to bring it all to life for the right price. To keep costs down, we shot everything with one actor on a sound stage and used stock footage in inventive ways, containing it within blocks of data and energetic graphics. We managed casting and rehearsals for the shoot, locking down movements and timing beforehand to reduce hours. And we kept most of the work in house, from production to direction to post, which included 3D motion tracking, 3D animation and more.

At the end of the day, we delivered the polish of high-end consumer advertising on a small budget and an even smaller timeline. Mission accomplished.

The principal behind Awe-Full is Travis Schlitter, a Kansas City based creative that has worked in advertising and design for nearly 15 years. An animation and motion design specialist, he evolved into a creative leader with a broad set of storytelling skills. Now he creates digital content ranging from interactive experiences for global brands to music videos for local bands.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Experience Design

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

With host Carson Kressley, Emmy-winning TV star and celebrity stylist, we knew we had to hit it out of the park. So, we decided to immerse the audience in the environments in which they would wear certain items of clothing. From fur coats and ski slopes to party dresses and celebration halls, we used a series of animated graphics to bring viewers on each model’s journey.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Experience Design
Animation
Story Development

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

After Hint was awarded Best Of Show at the 2012 Addy Awards, we were invited to create the show experience for 2013. Since Mr. Creativity had already been picked as the icon for the celebration, we brought him to life.

As Mr. Creativity lounged on stage, sporting a custom-made mask and 3D antlers that tracked real-time wireless movement, we broadcast his thoughts for all to see. Audiences got a glimpse into his abundant imagination with black-and-white graphic illustrations of bridge-crushing TVs, kissing couples and alien invasions.

ROLES:
Director
Design
Creative Direction

Created with agency partner, Swanson-Russell while working as a CD for Hint. 

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Animation
Design

Created while working for Hint:

Instead of the latest electronic gizmo or booze, T2's gift to clients in 2011 was a donation to local charity Project Warmth. T2 built a site and donated 10 cents per punch to help keep the less fortunate warm. And what better way to stay warm than with a nice christmas sweater.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Experience Design

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

When veteran E! News correspondent Giuliana Rancic agreed to host the stylish event, Truman Medical Center turned to us to create a night people would never forget. Using dramatic lighting and animations to create a mysterious runway reveal, we designed the stage as a living-and-breathing element. Motion sensors embedded in the runway tracked each models’ footsteps, triggering animated visuals that were projected on the cocoon-like screen as they passed. An upbeat soundtrack was the final touch to immerse audiences in the experience.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Story Development

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

Mid America Regional Council is all about air. So they created Quinton, a cheerful little bird who carries their message of improving air quality far and wide. When it was time to expand his route beyond print marketing into digital and television, we stepped in.

After re-envisioning Quinton to be more animation friendly, we told a lighthearted story through his eyes. Combining vivid imagery with music and typography, we show people the small adjustments they can make (walking, busing, biking or carpooling) to have a positive impact on air quality. When Quinton sees actions that help protect the environment, he whistles in approval and flies away. 

MARC was so pleased with viewer response to the video that they asked us to create an interactive children’s book. Now, Quinton is sure to spread his message nationwide.

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Animation
Design

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. 

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Writing

Created with agency partner, Diamond Merkens Hogan while working as a CD for Hint. 

ROLES:
Creative Direction

Created with agency partner, Muller Bressler Brown while working as a CD for Hint. Description from the Hint site:

St. Luke’s Hospital was looking to raise awareness about its brand and renowned cardiology center by reaching new and different audiences. In collaboration with healthcare agency hippo, we helped them do just that.

We came up with “Art of the heART” to connect people with the St. Luke’s brand in a fun-filled and emotional way, encouraging them to let go and create. This interactive installation, a 13-foot-tall heart-shaped “canvas,” allowed everyone from school-aged children to elderly mall walkers paint their own work of art. As participants waved their hands, watching brush strokes magically appear on the screen (thanks to Kinect software), they became truly engaged with the process — and with the brand. All works of art were uploaded to an online gallery and delivered directly to their creators via text message.

Now if that doesn’t tug at the heart strings, we don’t know what will.

ROLES:
Design
Animation

Created direct to client while working as a Motion Graphics Director for Barkley. 

ROLES:
Stop-Motion Animation
Design
Animation

Created direct to client while working as a Motion Graphics Director for Barkley. 

ROLES:
Director
Creative Direction
Animation

Created with agency partner, R&R Partners while working as a CD for Hint.

ROLES:
Creative Direction

Created with agency partner, Swanson-Russell while working as a CD for Hint. 

ROLES:
Design
Animation

Created direct to client while working as a Motion Graphics Director for Barkley. 

ROLES:
VFX Director
Design
Animation

Created direct to client while working as a Motion Graphics Director for Barkley. 

ROLES:
Creative Direction
Writing
Animation

Created direct to client while working as a CD for Hint. 

ROLES:
Design
Animation

Created direct to client while working as a Motion Graphics Director for Barkley.