Bounty / Banana’s work for Vice, Playstation, Givenchy and Veuve Clicquot is a wonderful, intoxicating blend of wry humour, animation and live performance. The duo have an ability to incorporate various animation styles into stories and characters, adding an unexpected emotional layer to their storytelling. Whether that be stop-frame, illustrative, figurative, or live action.
So, we wanted to learn more about them…
Playground> How have you worked together for this long, and not murdered each other?
Bounty / Banana> We both swallow our frustration and cram it in an overflowing little box close to our heart that cracks open every time we stub our toes against a table. We cry to sleep a lot as well. Even though we are very complementary in skill and style we are very like-minded and alike in communication. Courtesy goes a long way.
Playground> What do you think is the biggest challenge in advertising for directors?
Bounty / Banana> Committing to the vision across the production. We put a lot of effort into communicating with the client that they shouldn't slow down as we're all together running to jump off the ledge.
Playground> What do you think animation does for emotion in storytelling?
Bounty / Banana> It can enhance reality, like spices in food, or it can create a whole new one.
Playground> Where did the name Bounty / Banana spring from?
Bounty / Banana> Being both mixed blood, we thought it would be fun to tease ourselves with the expressions "bounty" (black outside/white inside) and "banana" (yellow outside/white inside). The combination sounded like some sort of a summertime cocktail, so we just went for it.
Playground> Who is your favourite movie character? And why?
Bounty / Banana> Julien at the top of his head would say Sarah Connor, for how she had the faith of humanity forced on her and how she fiercely stood-up to the "storm coming".
Steven would probably go for Keanu Reeves, because he is both Neo and John Wick, which makes him virtually indestructible. Batman and Piccolo from DBZ were also in the short list, but hey, I haven’t seen them give away their seat on the subway yet…
Busy fellows, their show Supa Supa has gathered more than 1.8 million views worldwide, and they will soon have their work in the upcoming Ubisoft/Netflix show called "Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix".
Working remotely, or here in the neighbourhood, the duo are super excited by the potential for creative interactions downunder.
Producer, Nick Garner: nick@playgroundfilms.com.au