“Compare the Market Aleks” by Walsh
Conference:
SIGGRAPH Video Review:
Track:
- 30
Title:
- Compare the Market Aleks
Director(s):
Company / Institution / Agency:
- Passion Pictures
Description:
The brief for the launch of the Compare the Market campaign was to create a commercial that could have been directed by Aleks the Meerkat himself. As a self-made billionaire, he has unlimited funds to create both a proud self portrait and a somewhat frustrated message to the viewers: Please stay away from my site, this is the one you want!
Passion Pictures was asked to create a very realistic meerkat that spoke and behaved like a real person rather than a cartoon character. Likewise, the setting was specified as very real and atmospheric. Aleks is frustrated with people swamping his site, and the frenetic action suggests he could snap at any moment. His standing pose also has a regal air to it, which fits the aristocratic part of his character, as if he’s posing for a classic portrait.
Software:
Nuke for compositing Mental Ray for rendering Edited on Final Cut Pro, XSI for modeling and animation
Additional Contributors:
Director: Darren Walsh
Client: Compare the Market.com
Production Company: Passion Pictures
Agency Producer: Olly Calverley
Agency: VCCP
Creative Directors: Darren Bailes, Steve Vranakis
Creatives: Richard Connell, Clement Woodward
Producers: Debbie Crosscup, Russell McLean
Executive Producers: Michael Adamo, Hugo Sands
Director of Photography: Olivier Cariou
Technical Supervisor: Julian Hodgson
Head of CG: Jason Nicholas
Editors: Paul Hardcastle, Jaime Rubio, Tim King
VFX Supervisor: Neil Riley
Animators: Wes Coman, Chris Welsby, Cath Brooks
Lead Lighter: Tommy Andersson
Lighting and Rendering: Quentin Vien, Guillaume Cassuto, Claire Michaud
Compositors: Neil Riley, Ed Salkeld
Rigger: Chris Dawson
Modelling: Cesar Nunes
