General 3 — Marco Ammannati

Good ol’ nuggets

Here is a collection of older work that no matter how old I still really like, and which offers a good overview of the multiple disciplines I have been working across over the years, on the journey through Design Agencies, Broadcasters, Advertising Agencies, Digital Agencies, and client direct relationships. Enjoy!

James Eadie

James Eadie began producing whisky all the way back in 1854. I was approached by Eadie's great-great-grandson, Rupert Patrick who had tracked down his ancestor’s ledgers, sampled one of the last surviving bottles from the 1940s with a panel of experts and invited Norman Mathison, one of Scotland’s finest Master Blenders, to bring James Eadie’s whisky back to life from the 19th century. (if you want to know more)

To symbolise the relaunch Ryan Hopkinson and Iain Graham crafted abstract images reminiscent of outer space or solar explosions. No CG, no special effects, all in camera: you are actually looking at real James Eadie whisky.

CREDITS

Creative Direction: Marco Ammannati
Photography: Ryan Hopkinson
Food Styling: Iain Graham
Retouch: The Forge

YEAR 2019

Rolls Royce

I was invited by British Design Studio Claydon Reeves to direct a video for the latest in luxury yachts: the 19.8 meters Aeroboat S6, powered by Rolls Royce. Crafted by the expert hands of DW Studio with audio by Zelig Sound.

I am presenting the boat design as it self-sculpts its seductive features. Aluminium and carbon complemented by a variety of luxurious woods are the materials that we see come to life to create the ultimate in opulent leisure travel.

The teaser video was used at the official launch of the Aeroboat during the SuperYacht Gallery Exposition at London's Saatchi Gallery.

CREDITS

Art and Creative Direction: Marco Ammannati
Superyacht Design: Claydon Reeves
CGI: DW Studio
Audio: Zelig Sound
Naval architecture: BMT Nigel Gee.

YEAR 2017

Alaraby Sports

I was commissioned by Yusuf Elsaadi to devise an identity package for Alaraby Alriyadi, the network's own sports show, encompassing a range of deliverables between on air and off air. A series of bigger than life sports character leap into motion and transform into one another. Their skin is made of a tiled design that is inspired by traditional arabic patterns, morphing and disintegrating through the movement of each character within a dark void.

CREDITS

Production: Castorini LTD
Creative Director and Designer: Marco Ammannati
CGI: Believe (Chile)
Audio: Zelig Studio

YEAR 2017

Podia

In 2014 I helped entrepreneur Max Burgess transform his road cycling passion into an everyday occupation, by designing an identity for his cycling brand Podia, as he relocated from London to Kraków, Poland, organising excursions around the Tatra Mountains and beyond.

In 2016 Max commissioned the design of a clothing line with two Jerseys and a Cap for the Podia Club. These images show both the brand identity, starting from the logo and its style guide through to the garments prints designs and a photoshoot with models featuring the Jerseys and the Caps.

CREDITS

Creative Director and Designer: Marco Ammannati

YEAR 2014-16

Meridian

Meridian Audio Automotive commissioned me to direct a video used both online as well as an "in car" Demo for the whole Jaguar and Land Rover vehicle ranges.

By interpreting the brand positioning to be leaders in "redefining the possible" the visuals work on a simple idea: to represent the technical features by giving form to something as invisible as audio as it travels though the vehicle.

Tech
The experienced team at Analog Studio brought this to life in CG. Custom ICE trees were custom scripted to be sound reactive. In conjunction with XSIsICE, C4D helped to set the look and feel of the spot from a 3d perspective. FumeFX and 3DS Max using VRay for fluid particles. Thinkbox krakatoa for nebulae. Greg Barbone composed a lovely piece of classical music. When used as 'in-car' Demo, it benefits from state of the art Trifield 3D technology.

CREDITS

Creative Direction: Marco Ammannati
Production, 3D and FX: Analog Studio
Arvid Niklasson, Mike Merron, Matt Chandler, Simon Reeves, Tim Woods, Nathan Bayliss Compositing @ Analog Studio: Fabio Zaveti, Nathan Bayliss

Audio Composer: Gregory Barbone
Additional Musicians: Joyce Hammann - Violin, Karen Waltuch - Viola, Noah Hoffeld - Cello
Surround Mixing: Michael Freyer

YEAR 2013

How I sketch out and present ideas

Samsung

As Creative Director of Viacom Advertising Sales and Brand Solutions I contributed to the establishing this new client relationship with Samsung and worked closely with their Seoul based agency to write the latest campaign for Samsung's Mobile Team in order to promote the TabS 10.5 and 8.4.

I steered the creative towards the use of mixed media in order to really celebrate technology as a whole, to transform the "normal" into exciting and poetic images.

The Before and Behind the Scenes videos provide a good account of what took to create these images and the immense work leading to their creation by a team of many talented people.

Written & Directed by Marco Ammannati
Produced by Helen Power STK Films
Animation Director: Simon Russell
Animator: Kooch Chung
Animator: Kieran Gee-Finch
Production Manager: Anya Defries
Runner: Charlie Gibson
Runner: Kharn Roberts
Sales Director: Aelina Courtney
Sales Director: Hanna Gordon
Senior Producer: Anna Snowman
Sales Director: Kimberly Davidson
Production Manager: Rhiannon Nash
Production Coordinator: Hannah Ford
Princliple: Troy Copeland (AMCK Managment)
Production Designer: Petra Storrs (Petra Storrs Studio)
Art Dept: Claudia Forsbrey
Art Dept: Esther Longley
Art Dept: Alice Rigby
Set Build Assist: Adam Pang
Projections: Chris Philpott (Projection Artworks)
Projections: Tim Willrich
Projections: Louis Connelly
DOP: Ben Todd
Focus Puller: Andy Banwell
Grip: Mark Morley
2nd AC: Sophie Monneret
Lighting Equiptment: John (Panalux)
1st AD: Hamish Storey
Runner: Marianna Grinev-Branch
Gaffer: Christian Hayes
Spark: Dave Nye
Spark: Dan McCormack
Rigger: Pat Daly
Rigging equipment: Pat Daly (Blitz Rigging)
Scissor Lift: Charles Wilson
Editor: Barnaby Bretton/Mesh
Colour Grade: Vic Parker (Raised by Wolves)
Music and Sound Design: Matthew Wilcock (Zelig Sound)
DIT: Romek Sudek
Hair & Make-Up: Maggie Forrest
Location: Stage 5, 3Mills Studios Tom o'Donoghue
Behind The Scenes: Santiago Pasada
Insurance: Simon Lee (Allan Chapman & James)
Catering: Nichola (Healthy Yummies)
Comms hire: Wavevend
Viacom International Media Solutions/Advertising and Brand Solutions

BBC Mimi on a mission

Peggy Pictures is a Content Production Company focusing on Factual and Documentary series aimed and featuring young audiences in the UK.

The series are hosted by Youtuber Mimi Missfit who brings her mission to get a selected pool of teenagers from around the UK to be confronted with pressing issues related to their age: from sex education, to digital detox and life on lockdown.

In Series 1, Mimi takes seven 14/15-year-olds on a sex ed fact finding mission to the Netherlands: from joining a school lesson for Dutch six-year-olds, to a sex IQ test, from a sex ed lesson at a very liberated high school to a challenge to make condoms cool.

CREDITS

Art Direction: Marco Ammannati
Production Company: Peggy Pictures
Ida Brusgaard, Danni Davis

YEAR 2018

Olympics 2012

In 2012 I was Lead Animator at Crystal CG London for the Paralympics Opening Ceremony, designing and animating visuals used for the ‘Audience Pixels’ (the giant screen formed by thousands of electronic paddles placed in front of each spectator’s seat and enveloping the entire Olympic Stadium in Stratford London for the 2012 Games). Technically challenging project. 10240 pixel wide After Effects comps is quite a bit of a headache: the reward was the knowledge to be working at history’s biggest disabled arts showcase. Stephen Hawking and Ian McKellen narrating and borrowing from Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Here is an edit of all Ceremonies by Crystal CG. Please Note this Edit of Broadcast material from both BBC and Channel4 transmissions does include not just the Paralympics Opening Ceremony I have worked on but also the 3 other Ceremonies of the 2012 Games.

Behind the Scenes

CREDITS

Artistic Co-Directors: Bradley Hemmings and Jenny Sealey - Set Designer: Jon Bausor
Creative Producer LOCOG: Justine Catterall
Supplier for 2012 Games: Crystal CG International
Crystal CG Executive CD: Will Case
Lead Art Dir. Paralympics: Daniel Capstick
Lead Animator Para.Opening: Marco Ammannati
Animator C4D / AE: Richard Thompson
Maya / Processing / C4D / AE: Chris Ratcliffe
Animator AE.1: Gideon Prins, Jessica Morgan, Chris Pearson. Technical Director 3DMax / AE: Jamie Shiels
Animator Cath Elliott, Nick Bateman, Ben Aldermann
Crystal Cg Executive Producer: Ed Cookson
Para.Opening Head Producer: Nina Ludgate
Producer: Giles Maunsell - Runner: Ed Fyfe
Production Manager: Zsuzsanna Voros

YEAR 2012

Freddy Mercury Style Frames

Kiss

I created these illustrations for the on screen branding of music tv channel ‘Kiss’. Here is the art direction, revisiting the 90’s obsession with animal print and making transformative patterns with them. I think the idea of transformation is often present in my work.

CREDITS

Client: BoxTV / Channel4
Commissioners: Dave Young, Thomas Bryant
Executive Producer: Matthew Wolfe
Art Direction and Illustration: Marco Ammannati

Q

Catering primarily for the young Males into indie rock and alternative, "Q the music'“ was rebranded in 2010 with a very playful on screen design which I designed to reference 80's style video games. Many years later this is still feeling strong.

Geometric shapes behave like little characters, filling, opening and collapsing, drawing up and destroying bold black red and white graphics onscreen. It was fun to make.

CREDITS

Client:  Box Tv / Channel4
Commissioners : Dave Young and Melissa Pine
Executive Producer:  Matthew Wolfe
Art Direction and Animation:  Marco Ammannati

Neighbours of Arabs

I was commissioned to create an opening sequence for a Socio-Political Talk Show for Alaraby Network in London. The show focuses on interviews and debates amongst influential figures. The opening Titles take us through an illustrated journey across a number of different countries, hinting at some of the hot topics (discussion material of the show): from Egypt through to the Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia and its draught related problems, from allegations of weapons smuggling in the Gulf area, through to tensions between north african immigrants and local people in Spain, from human rights in Iran through to political negotiations in Istanbul, the sequence resolves with a hand shake between two abstract political figures whose hands wrap around each other and form the title: the light blue word (Jiran) signifies "Neighbours" and it is interwoven with the dark blue word (Alearab) meaning "of Arabs".

CREDITS

Castorini LTD, London UK – Production
Marco Ammannati • Creative and Art Direction
Believe SA, Santiago, Chile – Production
Marcelo Stephani • Executive Producer
Cristobal Perez-Gazitua • Executive Producer
Raul Burgos Gomez · Illustrator
Carlos Araya · Animation Director
Diego Soto · Animator
Martin Basilio · Editor
Zelig Audio, London UK – Music and Sound Design Matthew Wilcock • Composer / Sound Designer
Aleah Morrison • Executive Producer

4music — Channel4

I still like a lot the R&D work I did in preparation for Channel4’s ‘4music’ rebrand. I designed a new logo and created an On Air identity all about quirky physics.

CREDITS

Client:  Channel4 - 4 music
Commissioners : Dave Young and Melissa Pine
Executive Producer:  Matthew Wolfe
Art Direction and Animation:  Marco Ammannati

MTV — Mainstage Sunday

Crazy bonkers Mexican Lucha Libre inspired identity for MTV MainStage Sunday.

CREDITS

Client:  Viacom / MTV
Creative Director: Georgia Cooke
Art Direction, Illustration, Design: Marco Ammannati

M.I.A. — Galang

Illustration and animation for M.I.A.’s debut music video for track Galang, directed by Rueben Fleischer and produced in collaboration with animation studio Foreign Office

CREDITS

Client:  Foreign Office / Rueben Fleischer
Director: Rueben Fleischer
M.I.A.’s own artwork, plus bespoke illustrations from Matteo Manzini and Marco Ammannati
Animation Company: Foreign Office

My Tees

Hand painted Sweatshirt with illustration by moi.

Devilfish poster

Illustrated typographic poster for the offices of agency Devilfish, London.

Life drawings

Bit of Bonkers stuff off some drawers in my mind

BBC Worldwide

On air package for BBC Worldwide. It was really good fun to work with my wife Miyo Yoshida to create these mini set designs for each of the themes: Crime, Sci-fi and Gold

CREDITS

Client:  BBC Worldwide
Agency: Castorini.
Creative Direction: Marco Ammannati
Set Design: Miyo Yoshida