Starry - ID# 466
Maine East
Commercial
Entry Description
A curious man happens to discover a new lemon-lime soda variety, "Starry." The rest is history.
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/26 9:42 am - Your combination of creative shots, graphics and animations is wonderfully done in this piece! Your editing is well done as well. I like that you not only showed the product, but also told us a story as well.
- 3/4 8:58 pm - Your ability to infuse fun and creativity into the animations is commendable and speaks volumes about your talent and dedication to your craft. Animation offers a unique medium to bring ideas to life, and it's clear you've harnessed this potential to create something truly engaging and memorable. Achieving a consistent and enjoyable vibe throughout the commercial is crucial in maintaining viewer engagement and effectively communicating the brand's message. It's evident that you've managed to strike the perfect balance, ensuring that every element, from the visuals to the sound, contributes to this overarching atmosphere. This consistency is key to creating a cohesive and impactful advertisement that resonates with the audience. The aesthetics and animations you've described as spectacular are undoubtedly the result of meticulous planning, creativity, and technical skill. In the competitive landscape of commercial advertising, standing out with exceptional visual storytelling can significantly enhance the brand's appeal and audience recall. Your work not only highlights the product in an attractive light but also sets a high standard for what can be achieved with animation in advertising. As you continue to develop your skills and explore new projects, consider the following suggestions to further enhance your work: Experiment with Different Animation Styles: While the current aesthetic has proven effective, experimenting with various animation techniques and styles can offer new ways to captivate and engage your audience. This could include mixing traditional 2D animation with 3D elements, stop-motion, or even incorporating live-action footage for a hybrid approach. Focus on Storytelling: Beyond the visual spectacle, the story you tell through your animation can deeply influence the audience's connection to the brand. Consider developing narratives that not only entertain but also resonate with the viewers' experiences, aspirations, or emotions. Engage with Sound Design: The role of sound in animation cannot be overstated. Carefully selected music, voiceovers, and sound effects can greatly enhance the animation's impact, adding depth and dimension to the visual experience. Collaborate with sound designers to create a soundscape that complements and elevates your animations.
Judge 1
Positives: THIS IS GREAT!!! Please excuse the pun, but this spot was REFRESHING to watch. The story through-line is a bit blurry, but it alsmost doesn't matter, because whether intended or not, the non-sensical nature of this spot, with a bit of a "hit you over the head" messaging works well. - How could I not give props to the amazing VFX work - on par with some real world stuff - this will serve you well in your creative career! It feels like it pulls in video game 'power up' elements which I think is smart. - The editing isn't perfect, but I really want to shout out the beats. The false start of the ad, to the transition after seeing them in the fridge work really well. And the end line "YES" to me makes little sense, but is just funny. Also the "why choose boring?" is a fun line.
Improvements: - You can get this down to a :30 - I BELIEVE IN YOU!! Look for little moments where you can trim, specifically around the action of our characters turn to seek the starry, the fridge open, etc - make those snappier and the spot will be stronger. - Ooh, ok here's a good lesson - It wasn't until maybe my fifth watch-through that I caught the "we guarantee it'll give you the yes moment" line, which totally helps support the "yes" at the end. You may be familiar with the idea of visual hierarchy, which is fancy ad-speak for making sure the viewer reads or see's what you put on screen in the order which you want them too. In this case, I couldn't see that small line, and would push you to try to reorganize the layout to setup your spot better.
Judge 2
Positives: 1. Excellent story telling. The man drinks Starry, and suddenly his world turns green and interesting. This is exactly the kind of idea that sells products! 2. I really like the use of music. It's timed perfectly to compliment the story. The music really kicks in right as the soda tab is popped. Very nice touch. 3. The music / sound fx go really well with the opening text when the light is flickering. That kind of attention to detail is what separates professional level editing. Awesome!
Improvements: 1. Camera / lighting: At 0:23 the product can be seen in the fridge. I like this shot idea an concept, but I have a subtle tip for you: The Starry cans are taking up about 30% of the frame, and there are other colorful things in the fridge (strawberries, green Tupperware...). I would have the Starry cans be 80% of the frame and have everything else be very white, with no color. That way, the cans really "pop" and the cans catch our eye immediately. You don't want the product (the star of the commercial) to blend in with other things in the fridge at all. The Starry cans should be on a pedestal and it's like there is something sacred about it. 2. Similar as above with your shot at 0:39. This is the hero shot of the soda can, I think the background items are 10% distracting for me. There's some electrical wires and then a bowl with some white donuts, I think. It's not a blatant mistake, but I just don't think these background items add anything to your great story. You already have a great concept ("Why Choose boring?" If you drink Starry, you're life will be so fun and you will see colors and flying rainbows!") so build on your well crafted story. The electrical outlet and white bowl slightly take away from this great story you have. SUMMARY: Great job on this. The concept is exactly the kind of thing you would see in a commercial. It's fun, funny, and makes me want to try the drink.
Judge 3
Positives: The story is fun and energetic. Your sound mix was also excellent! The quality of the sound mix goes a long way. I could really see this on a playing in-between segments of my favorite youtube videos.
Improvements: Lighting could have been a little more dynamic.
Judge 4
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Judge 5
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