Okta
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A new AI agent joins the team; made of gradients, glass, and maybe just a little too much initiative. Once again, we reunited with Jenny, this time to explore what happens when a curious AI agent gets its first day on the job. As Jenny walks the new recruit through a maze of departments and data access points, we zip through glowing portals and see firsthand what responsible access really looks like. Designed to feel grounded yet stylized, we traded bright pop for rich shadows and warm sunlit offices, creating a real-world canvas that lets our CG agent and luminous portals glow with intent. The result is a visual metaphor for trust, control, and just how much Okta keeps in check behind the scenes.

Credits

Production Company
Scholar 

Directors
Chris Finn & Michael Tavarez

Managing Director / EP
Kirsten Noll

Executive Producer
Kate Aspell

Head of Production
Nicole Smarsh

Line Producer
Rich Kaylor

Director of Photography
Josh Saideman

Production Designer
Sara Kugelmass

 

Design & Animation
Scholar

Creative Directors
Chris Finn, Macaulay Johnson

Managing Director / EP
Kirsten Noll

Executive Producer
Kate Aspell

Head of Production
Nicole Smarsh

CG Supervisor
Kevin Koladinsky, Brice Linane, Jamil Primas

Senior Producer
Seth Gantman, Michael Heil

Designers
Cristina Barna, Ana Chang, Jina Kwon, Kyle Switzer, Carlos Taborda

Cel Animators
Ana Chang

Model/Texture Artists
Ohad Bracha, Carlos Taborda

3D Animators
Beavan Blocker, Paul Wei

Lighters
Ross Denner, Jamil Primas

Compositors
Kevin Njoo, Ashley Jahanshahi

Flame Artist
Kevin Njoo

Storyboards
Ana Chang, Jee Kim, Jasper Yu

Media Manager
Adrianna McKinley

Interactive lighting was key to grounding Buddy and the portals in the space, casting a cool glow onto Jenny through a mix of practical lighting cues and post FX relighting.

PROCESS

Built from floating, modular shapes with an undulating gradient core, Buddy radiates curiosity and charm. An expressive digital companion that feels tactile and alive within the physical world.

Capturing precise on-set data allowed the environment to be reconstructed in CG for animators, providing accurate spatial reference to anchor effects and cast dynamic light onto surfaces.

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