Strategic design and advertising agency 72andSunny released the second of several new artist collaborations to be featured on zune-arts.net and aired beginning this month during Adult Swim on Cartoon Network this summer. This latest video, DOGFIGHT, tells the tale of two enemy fighter pilots who spark a friendship via impromptu aerial artistry and fireworks that result from their surprising and spectacular mid-air explosions. The film was animated by Los Angeles-based Fulltank and set to the track "Special Thing" by Portland-based rock duo Viva Voce.
"To me, it's about the rewarding and unexpected surprises you find when you share -- even when you share by accident," said Glenn Cole, creative director, 72andSunny. "During development, the film evolved a lot. Originally it was a love story with a stark visual treatment. But everyone involved kept pushing it someplace new and better."
"One of my favorite things about this film is the way the song works with the story," added Bryan Rowles, art director, 72andSunny. "There's just a humanity to it which sets the mood and provides a great counterpoint to the intense action and beauty of Fulltank's animation. It would be easy to lose yourself in the crazy fireworks but the song keeps your attention grounded in the characters and their emerging friendship."
The look of the film was inspired by traditional cel animation and manga cartoons, and then incorporating those sensibilities into a hybrid 3D/illustrated world. "Fulltank breathed life into this idea is every way imaginable," noted Jason Norcross, writer, 72andSunny. "They were able to combine the intensity of battle with the sensitivity of courtship with a really irreverent sense of humor. They packed a ton into 60 seconds."
"Every time I watch it I discover something new," added John Boiler, co-founder, 72andSunny. "Maybe it's a subtle expression, or yet another detail in the explosions, or one of a dozen other things. It's a simple story told in a sophisticated way."
As Zune Arts heads into its second year, the program continues its mission of living the Zune brand idea of friendship and sharing by fostering inspiring collaborations between artists in all mediums.
Fulltank is a design and animation company guided by exec producer Ben Morris and creative director Chris Do. Portland, Oregon's Viva Voce (Italian for "word of mouth") is drum guru Kevin Robinson and his wife/guitar goddess Anita Robinson.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
