Xbox
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Project:

Xbox 'Ara: History Untold'

Type:

Recent, Animation

The course of history has been shaped by an infinite number of choices made since the dawn of time. But that's the history we know… what about the history that could have been? In collaboration with gnet, we take viewers on a zooming journey for one of Xbox’s latest game trailers. With a dash of cinematic style, we highlight the leaders forging their way through history. Our goal was to capture the imagination of gamers by mixing contrasting elements from the past and future –Egyptian pyramids entrenched deep into an arctic landscape, a modern city celebrating the return of a Byzantine empress. In Ara, the possibilities of stories untold are limitless.

Credits

  • Design & Animation: Scholar

  • Creative Director: Chris Finn

  • Managing Executive Producer: Kirsten Noll

  • Head of Production: Nicole Smarsh

  • Art Director: Danni Fisher-Shin

  • CG Supervisor: Tim Hayward

  • Sr Producer: Christina Yiallouris

  • Associate Producer: Bella Bergeron

  • Storyboards: Jingjing Cao

  • Designer / Concept Art / Matte Painter: Tim Rodriguez

  • 2D Animators: Susie Scheer, Andrew Tan

  • Model / Texture Artists: Ryan Kaplan, Eric Xu

  • Leg Specialists: Chaya Pictures

  • 3D Animators: Han Hu, Stephen Van Wyk, Chris Meek, Melik Malkasian

  • 3D Generalists: Brice Linane, Kevin Kolondinsky

  • Lighters: Jacques Clement, Micheal Lampe

  • Dynamics / FX: Tim Hayward

  • Comp Supervisor: Matt Lavoy

  • Compositors: Phil Massimino, Daniel Noren

  • QC: Adrianna McKinley

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  • Agency: gnet

  • gnet Executive Creative Director: David Moodie

  • gnet Creative Director: Laurel Miller

  • gnet Associate Producer: Jake Kirk

  • gnet Senior Producer: Brandon King

  • gnet Head of Production: Shelby Hill

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  • Voice Talent: Shohreh Aghdashloo

"The infinite zoom camera allowed us to move seamlessly and quickly through each beat of animation and key moment in history. Carefully choreographed moments of character animation were incorporated to guide the viewer’s eye around the frame and accentuate historical figures."

Process

"Our visual development process began with environmental keyframes that defined each vignette. We focused on cinematic lighting, sweeping terrains, and a balanced range of color palettes."