WCRS Squashes Five Samurai Into A Mini

“5 chubby samurai, 2 tired beehives, 3058 glass eyes, 12 rapping puffer fish, 5 leaf blowers, 4 ghosts... and 1 skunk” according to the latest collaboration from Mitch Stratten (Mitch Stratten Systems) and WCRS. The campaign includes an online film (80secs) and 8 quirky idents.
 

Director, Stratten says "I thought it would be cool to have the performance feel theatrical and loose and the sound to be as if there was live improvised percussion on the side”.

He continues, “I'm not a massive fan of CGI and prefer to do things in camera so you believe it; but to get around my phobia I thought it would be ok to combine high end CGI with more low-fi hands-on puppeteering, so you have the two extremes interacting in the same scene, playing out this theatrical piece. I was still surprised with the level of the CGI at the end."
 

VFX Producer, Rahel Makonnen recalled "Due to the practical way in which it was filmed it was a very enjoyable 2D comp job. The 3D elements involved were a challenge but we're very pleased with the end result. All of the creatives at WRCS and Mitch have a great sense of humour and it was a pleasure for the whole team to work on such an extraordinary concept."
 

When it came to editing, The Whitehouse’s Sam Gunn comments that “the challenge was really found in timing out and visualizing the extensive post - even with the aid of a pre-viz and some Avid rotoscoping - because the action within each scene was so unusual. How much time really should I allow for two beehives, chased by a swarm of bees, to run and jump in to the boot of the car...?”
 

As for working with Mr Stratten, he adds “Mitch made the experience all the more enjoyable, he's technically brilliant and knows exactly what he wants which is a great comfort when working on a project like this”
 

The end result is something that is visually stunning and approached with the attention to detail that one would expect from Stratten (who formerly Directed the highly technical Toshiba “Time Sculpture” also cut at The Whitehouse).
 

To view the 80sec version, click here http://mini.co.uk/getmorein/

 

CREDITS

Client: Mini

Product: Mini Countryman Agency: WCRS

Agency Producer: Tamara Kennon Creative Director: Dave Johnson Creatives: Christen & Bertie

Production company: Mitch Stratten Systems Director: Mitch Stratten

Producer: Jason Kemp

Director of Photography: Ian Foster

Editor: Sam Gunn @ Whitehouse Post Post production: The Mill London Music: Hear No Evil

Sound effects and mix: Tatsuji Mikajiri Final Mix: Factory

Sound engineer: Anthony Moore