Any one reading this site SHOULD know what a zoetrope is, and if you don’t you might wanna brush up on your film/animation history.  Animation has come a long way since this little invention where a viewer once had to spin this cylindrical device and stare into the tiny slits to see a rapid succession of images produce the illusion of motion. Now, all one need to do is create a few images on a digital timeline with the touch of a keyboard or tablet, and then hit enter to see the motion of images instantaneously.   But in the case of Ayse Unal, of Anima Istanbul,  and compostor Ilhan Poyraz, they have teamed up to recreate the experience of viewing  a zoetrope in a modern way with this promo for Instanbul’s IF 2009 independent film festival.  

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Commissioned by Medina Turgul DDB, Ayse Unal, led a team of artists which included Ilhan Poyraz, Enes Bilgin, Jean Michel Berhorel, Flash animator, Erhan Gezen, and music composed by Cevdet Erek.  Spotted on Motionographer.com.

Ghost Robot and director Elliot Jokelson just wrapped up this amazing commercial to announce the line-up of the 2009 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. This piece seems to be referenced from the style of Jen Stark’s amazing paper art.

Innovative concept, wicked animation and transitions, awesome typographic work, great art direction and a superb soundtrack to wrap it all up nicely. They even did a full 3D version.

Laurie Thinot of Partizan Lab, directs this cool music video, titled Stay the Same, for Autokratz. This is the kind of visual storytelling that keep 2D digital animation techniques fresh and original. The overhead projector style mixed with info-graphics make for an interesting animated motion design video. Laurie, along with animator Gustavo Almenara, keeps up with the frenetic beats while exhibiting a pure joy for her visual forms.

For MTV’s Switch campaign, Deli Pictures animated this musically-driven short film titled The Green Song. Overseen by Sean Thompson at 180 Amsterdam and the production company Rokkit, director Michael Reissinger hammers home the environmental conservation message.

The clothing retailed Gap called upon the team at Blind and director Chris Do to create a music video for Danish-band The Raveonettes. The effort is promoting Gap’s spring and summer collections, and the track is titled Black/White.

Shilo gives Cartoon Network a little street cred, with a little help from Elijah, a young rapper. The spot is titled Rap.

This piece titled 0.08% Of My Time was presented at the International Amsterdam Film Festival (IAFF). It was produced using public domain films by Superelectric.