The Future is in Digital Organics
A LinkedIn Article by Andy Collen When looking back at my first introduction to the digital organic world, I recall my first steps into the
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A successful 2D commercial animation regional ad campaign featuring four animated spots. These entertaining ads highlighted several special offers at Pizza Ranch. The team at Happy Trails Animation gathered and staged custom western style reference footage to design cleverly animated figures and backgrounds, bringing the client’s creative messaging to life.
Silhouette animation catches everyone’s eye. Its charm, simplicity and hand-drawn quaky movement keep viewers entertained while enjoying the commercial message.
Broadcast ad creative concept, copywriting, narration and art direction provided by Insight Marketing Design.
A successful 2D commercial animation regional ad campaign featuring four animated spots. These entertaining ads highlighted several special offers at Pizza Ranch. The team at Happy Trails Animation gathered and staged custom western style reference footage to design cleverly animated figures and backgrounds, bringing the client’s creative messaging to life.
Silhouette animation catches everyone’s eye. Its charm, simplicity and hand-drawn quaky movement keep viewers entertained while enjoying the commercial message.
Broadcast ad creative concept, copywriting, narration and art direction provided by Insight Marketing Design.
A successful 2D commercial animation regional ad campaign featuring four animated spots. These entertaining ads highlighted several special offers at Pizza Ranch. The team at Happy Trails Animation gathered and staged custom western style reference footage to design cleverly animated figures and backgrounds, bringing the client’s creative messaging to life.
Silhouette animation catches everyone’s eye. Its charm, simplicity and hand-drawn quaky movement keep viewers entertained while enjoying the commercial message.
Broadcast ad creative concept, copywriting, narration and art direction provided by Insight Marketing Design.
A successful 2D commercial animation regional ad campaign featuring four animated spots. These entertaining ads highlighted several special offers at Pizza Ranch. The team at Happy Trails Animation gathered and staged custom western style reference footage to design cleverly animated figures and backgrounds, bringing the client’s creative messaging to life.
Silhouette animation catches everyone’s eye. Its charm, simplicity and hand-drawn quaky movement keep viewers entertained while enjoying the commercial message.
Broadcast ad creative concept, copywriting, narration and art direction provided by Insight Marketing Design.
An award winning commercial animation ad campaign featuring four 2D national spots. This animated ad highlights Stamford Hospital's advanced cancer treatment services. Our team at Happy Trails Animation manipulated live footage and pros into silhouette animation with smoothly animated transitions, bringing the client's creative messaging to life.
Discover more at a hospital that battles cancer with the same innovative options offered at the most advanced medical centers. Stamford Hospital ~ discover more.
Award-winning custom commercial animation from an ad campaign, featuring four 2D national spots. This animated ad highlights Stamford Hospital's advanced heart surgical services. Our team constructed a prop heart, shot live footage as reference and created silhouette animation with smoothly animated transitions, bringing the client's creative messaging to life.
Discover more at the only area hospital to offer a comprehensive open-heart surgery program. A hospital that partners with New York Presbyterian to provide cardiac expertise of the highest caliber and the only area hospital to offer elective angioplasty procedures to open blood vessels before they become life threatening. Dr. Edward Portnay, interventional cardiologist: "At Stamford Hospital, we offer a comprehensive range of options to prevent and fight the effects of heart disease." Stamford Hospital ~ discover more.
An award winning animated ad campaign featuring four 2D national spots. This animated ad highlights Stamford Hospital's advanced cancer teamwork. Our team shot reference footage, crafted 2D silhouettes with animated graphics to express SPM Marketing & Communications' creative messaging.
Discover more at a hospital where cancer experts team together to offer advance treatment options. A hospital using more innovative drug therapies than any community hospital in Connecticut, and the only hospital in Fairfield County to offer both the cyberknife and da Vinci robotic surgical system to destroy tumors with pinpoint accuracy. Dr. Paul Weinstein, Medical Oncologist: “At Stamford Hospital we provide a truly patient centered approach to battle cancer, and win. Stamford Hospital ~ discover more.
Award winning 2D animated ad featuring Stamford Hospital’s advanced OBGYN da Vinci surgery system. Happy Trails Animation animated in a custom organic silhouette style with simple graphics and smoothly animated transitions that effectively expressed the client’s creative vision.
Discover more at a hospital offers one of the most advanced surgical tools ever imagined: The da Vinci robotic surgery system. Da Vinci allows surgeons to see inside a woman’s body with amazing 3D clarity and perform complex gynecological surgeries including hysterectomies for removal of uterin fibroids. Dr. Lance Brook, Chairman of OBGYN: “Da Vinci’s amazing accuracy reduces a patient’s recovery time from six to eight weeks, down to only one.” Stamford Hospital ~ discover more.
DaviesMoore creative agency collaborated with Happy Trails Animation to create a national ad campaign featuring a trio of uniquely animated commercials for WinCo Foods’ new store location in Las Vegas. We were asked to develop a custom style of animation — something that would look eye-catching, handmade and rustic.
The solution became simple — we all agreed that it would look great if we made the artwork look as though the artist drew the scenes on a brown paper shopping bag. Next, the reference footage was shot on our iPhones, using a shopping cart as our camera dolly (with the store manager’s permission) during a shopping trip to our local WinCo Foods in Portland, Oregon. From there the frames were improved, roto-scoped and animated using traditional, paper-free 2D animation methods.
There’s something in the air at WinCo Foods…pride! From proud shoppers who fill their carts without draining their wallets, to employees who act like they own the place, because…well…they do! WinCo Foods. Pride in saving, pride in service.
DaviesMoore creative agency collaborated with Happy Trails Animation to create a national ad campaign. This spot is called “Shop Smart” and it is one of three unique animated commercials for WinCo Foods’ new store location in Las Vegas.
You’re a smart shopper. Responsible. You’re frugal and you hold your head high. Aisle to aisle and shelf after shelf, WinCo Foods offers low prices at incredible savings on groceries and household essentials. Go ahead! Shop smart. Shop WinCo.
DaviesMoore creative agency collaborated with Happy Trails Animation to create a national ad campaign. This spot is called “Stock Up” and it is one of three unique animated commercials for WinCo Foods’ new store location in Las Vegas.
Roll up to the register and watch the savings add up. At WinCo Foods, a full cart doesn’t mean an empty wallet. Find low prices and great savings on all your groceries and household essentials. Go ahead…shop smart. Shop WinCo!
An award winning commercial animation ad campaign featuring four 2D Regional spots. This animated ad highlights Fullerton Bank’s line of services, Free Checking, Real Estate loans, Home Improvements, College Tuition, and Business Accounts. Our team at Happy Trails Animation produced storyboards, assisted with creative, inked and colored the artwork.
“Is your bank getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger…’til you feel like you’re lost in the crowd? Well get the community advantage. Come on over to Fullerton Community Bank. At Fullerton Community Bank we treat every customer as a name, not a number. And with eight branches to choose from and ATMs at all locations, we’re as convenient as those giant banks are. But a whole lot friendlier. Fullerton Community Bank…it’s where you want to be.”
An award winning commercial animation ad campaign featuring four 2D Regional spots. This animated ad highlights Fullerton Bank’s line of services, Free Checking, Real Estate loans, Home Improvements, College Tuition, and Business Accounts. Our team at Happy Trails Animation produced storyboards, assisted with creative, inked and colored the artwork.
“…(For checking accounts press one…for savings accounts press two). Is your bank pushing your buttons? Are you tired of lining up with the herd? (…now serving number 917) Why not make the change over to Fullerton Community Bank where every customer is number one. Get the community advantage. Fullerton Community Bank …it’s where you want to be.”
An award winning commercial animation ad campaign featuring four 2D Regional spots. This animated ad highlights Fullerton Bank’s line of services, Free Checking, Real Estate loans, Home Improvements, College Tuition, and Business Accounts. Our team at Happy Trails Animation produced storyboards, assisted with creative, inked and colored the artwork.
“A home equity loan can come in handy around the house. Apply for your home equity loan or line of credit at Fullerton Community Bank where you won’t get the run-around. You’ll get the community advantage. Caring, friendly service you want from a bank. And we’ll help you get the cash you need for home improvements, bill consolidation college tuition or even your dream vacation. Fullerton Community Bank… we help you get what you want.”
An award winning commercial animation ad campaign featuring four 2D Regional spots. This animated ad highlights Fullerton Bank’s line of services, Free Checking, Real Estate loans, Home Improvements, College Tuition, and Business Accounts. Our team at Happy Trails Animation produced storyboards, assisted with creative, inked and colored the artwork.
“Running a business isn’t really that hard. You’re always popular with employees. You get all the important phone calls and every day is filled with exciting surprises. At Fullerton Community Bank we understand that what businesses need is a friend. Get the community advantage with our full line of business banking services. And because we’re your neighbor, we make all lending decisions right in your neighborhood. So, next time the business world has you on the run, you’ve got a friend to turn to. Fullerton Community Bank. It’s where you want to be.”
An award winning animated spot featuring an in-house 3D/2D technique. This combination of processes gives the computer animation part the feeling of armature or replacement animation. This ad highlights with an artistic approach what you might see at the local Seabrook Paint stores. Our team at Happy Trails Animation produced storyboards, assisted with creative, inked and colored the artwork.
This award-winning spot was popular with viewers and promoted Seabrook Paints well while it! It came to us with a 2-week deadline.
“Right now, everything is on sale at Seabrook. Like our huge selection of wallpaper. And designer brand paints. But there’s more to see at Seabrook, because our accessories are also on sale. Choose from elegant chairs or unique lamps or accent pieces. It all comes together at the Seabrook storewide sale. You’ll love the selection. You’ll flip over the savings!
An artfully animated commercial created to help build tourist awareness of the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Happy Trails created unique animation featuring a kaleidoscope of aquatic life befitting the campaign’s message of “Wow, That’s Different.” This unusual ad highlights an assortment of sea creatures that you might see on any given day while at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. The team at Happy Trails Animation rushed storyboards, assisted with creative, shot all reference footage (seagull, sea life, people), collaged, inked and digitally painted images as well as scouted, staged and filmed the people in the commercial.
This award-winning spot was a terrific success, produced from start to finish within a strict two-week timeline for local broadcast.
Award winning 2D animated commercial featuring a uniquely drawn character and surroundings to help create a community brand for 1-800-Call-Doc’s door-to-door line of medical services. Happy Trails Animation produced storyboards, assisted with creative, created original animation and produced the audio.
This award-winning 2D spot was a tremendous success! In fact, it generated such an overwhelming public response, the commercial spot had to be pulled from broadcast for two weeks so that the 1-800-Call Doc company could upgrade their phone system and grow their a call center team so that they could handle the increase in calls.
When getting to the doctor is difficult, just dial 1-800-CALL-DOC. We’re physicians who make housecalls, and we’ll have a caring physician at your door that same day, seven days a week. With 1-800-CALL-DOC the doctor comes to you, equipped to take x-rays, blood tests, even EKGs. From flu symptoms to more serious problems. 1-800-CALL-DOC. Our waiting room is your living room. For a free brochure, call 1-800-CALL-DOC. Physicians who make house calls. Covered by Medicare
2D animation campaigns are unique and custom made.
“Looking out into the world today, it’s easy to see why brands are more important now than at any time in the past 100 years. Brands are psychology and science brought together as a promise mark as opposed to trademark. Products have life-cycles. Brands outlive products. Brands convey a uniform quality, credibility and experience. Brands are valuable. Many companies put the value of their brand on their balance sheet.” – Forbes
This 1-minute trailer is for a much longer project, an animated feature. Each year the studio delves into a new pet project for inspiration. Producing our own work also allows us to experiment with new animation techniques and production processes.
The full project will be a feature length film in a very painterly style. We know we are on to something good when the trailer made from R&D samples wins such a special nod by an award like this!
The Telly has been around for 30 years and is the largest and most prestigious award of its kind, receiving entries from 50 states and 30 countries around the world, honoring a diverse pool of talent.
Double Barrel Motion Labs brought quality motion Comics into the limelight by teaming up with Happy Trails Animation to raise the bar of a genre that is sweeping the comic and cartoon world.
This Motion Comic was created for a special BBC Doctor Who event. It features a section of live-action that had been storyboarded but not yet filmed. Happy Trails Animation transformed the existing storyboard art into an exciting Motion Comic as part of the BBC launch party for the new Doctor Who.
Double Barrel Motion Labs introduced a higher quality of Motion Comics into the limelight by teaming up with Happy Trails Animation, raising the bar of a genre that is sweeping the comic and cartoon world.
Double Barrel Motion Labs brought quality Motion Comics into the limelight by teaming up with Happy Trails Animation to raise the bar of a genre that is sweeping the animated cartoon and comic world.
Voiceover from the film's recording sessions was pulled and matched to its storyboards and then brought to life, working side by side with the film's director to capture in limited animation style the feeling of the films atmosphere. A few episodes were produced as extra materials for the DVD release. Motion Comics are a great way to expand on any IP.
Double Barrel Motion Labs brought quality Motion Comics into the limelight by teaming up with Happy Trails Animation to raise the bar of a genre that is sweeping the comic and cartoon world.
Taking ancient East Indian tales and bringing them into the motion comic world seems like an amazing opportunity. These comics had a very interesting painted style, which allowed our motion comic style to shine. Great stories and amazing visuals make for incredible motion comics. This was the original test clip that we produced for this project.
Double Barrel Motion Labs brought quality Motion Comics into the limelight by teaming up with Happy Trails Animation to raise the bar of a genre that is sweeping the comic and cartoon world.
As brand awareness to a new gen of "Tron" movie fans, Disney Digital wanted to create an App. This App was designed to attract a new audience and present "Tron: Legacy" through new and current technology: that of the motion comic App environment. Using audio from the feature and amazing storyboard illustrations we were able to create animated panels for this amazing illustrated story of "Tron: Legacy". We hope you enjoy this trailer shown at a past Comic Con.
Double Barrel Motion Labs introduced a higher quality of Motion Comics into the limelight by teaming up with Happy Trails Animation, raising the bar of a genre that is sweeping the comic and cartoon world.
Young Liars was created as brand awareness for the release of indie comics by Eisner, featuring award-winning writer David Lapham. The Young Liars Motion Comic was the first promotional to take full advantage of how impactful, dynamic and sophisticated Motion Comics can truly be. Whether produced as complimentary marketing material or as independent content, Motion Comics are here to stay.
Quality Motion Comic animation demands high skills in the “art of animation.” Flat, static artwork is brought into the dynamic, unexpected world of animation while preserving the integrity of the original illustrations.
Double Barrel Motion Labs brought quality Motion Comics into the limelight by teaming up with Happy Trails Animation to raise the bar of a genre that is sweeping the comic and cartoon world.
This custom Motion Comic animation video test sample was produced to show how you can help guide your audience through a story or message. As you move from panel to panel watching the animation the anticipation of what is coming next builds. Good branding is about connecting with your audience and keeping them wanting more.
2D animation campaigns are unique and custom made.
“Looking out into the world today, it’s easy to see why brands are more important now than at any time in the past 100 years. Brands are psychology and science brought together as a promise mark as opposed to trademark. Products have life-cycles. Brands outlive products. Brands convey a uniform quality, credibility and experience. Brands are valuable. Many companies put the value of their brand on their balance sheet.” – Forbes
This animated logo takes the viewer through the transformation that ANA Airlines has progressed through, and into the future of transportation: Avatars.
Happy Trails Animation completed a theatrical policy trailer for Cinemark Theater. Featuring Cinemark's established Front Row Joe character, the 75-second short was produced along with Smithgroup Communications. "Late for Showtime" was distributed to theaters in South and Central America as well as the Southwestern United States.
Happy Trails executive producer Mark Axton said "This job was a real thrill for us because we were asked to develop the concept and write the script. It was a hoot coming up with gags that would really make this trailer an homage to early animation superstars like Chuck Jones and Tex Avery. We don't get nearly enough opportunities to make things stretch and go boing and have eyes bulging out, so this was refreshing and fun."
After watching our short film “Winter/En Hiver,” Fairfield County’s Community Foundation chose Happy Trails Animation to create a traditionally animated short film for their fundraising event in Connecticut.
The Fairfield County's Community Foundation has many functions, and the purpose of this 2D short film was to inspire foundation members to donate money for the Fund for Women and Girls. The fund’s mission is to help girls and/or young mothers who need a helping hand to get their lives back in order. One could say they just needed a “seed of opportunity,” which is how the concept for the short film found its beginning.
Within 4 weeks Happy Trails produced this 4 minute, fully hand-drawn short film titled “Seeds of Opportunity.” The finished animation was a great success in engaging the audience at their fundraising event, expressing the foundation’s mission. This award-winning short film was shown at several short film festivals.
An artfully animated informational video created to help build audience awareness around the medical emergency equipment of Sam Medical. Happy Trails created a special character named “Sam Medic” who could speak to the client’s main clientele in Emergency, Military, and Medical showing us “the how the products work.” The team at Happy Trails prepared storyboards, assisted with creative, designed the characters and animated them against custom, digitally painted backgrounds.
There are a variety of ways to raise awareness about the importance of recycling, and to promote participation. The creative at Marcus Thomas brought the team of Happy Trails Animation on board to create this charming informational video, including character design, animation and sound design.
New product releases should always be exciting, but the people need to be informed as well. This corporate video humorously tracks the concept of “Modeling”, and its evolution from pre-history to modern day. The ‘retro’ style is very appealing without being distracting.
This project was presented at a trade show and also played a role in cross-promotion of the new software on the Microsoft web site.
Corporate animation videos (informationals) have become more and more popular as businesses are taking on the production in-house. Over the years we have found this to be a growth need for B2B marketing. Manzama is a perfect example of how animation can help clarify and focus on a message, while at the same time helping to brand their image graphically.
This video was created to help build audience awareness of Manzama’s new content intelligence platform. Happy Trails created a simple whiteboard animation featuring the message of “How Manzama Works.” Happy Trails produced custom illustrations, assisted with creative and animated in a style that mimics whiteboard animation, per the client’s request.
An informational video created to help build audience awareness of Idaho Diabetes Prevention & Control Program. Happy Trails created a simple 50's retro style mixed with modern Flash animation featuring a youthful "blood drop" character who shows us "the importance of diabetes control."
A charmingly simple animated informational video created to help build audience awareness around electricity and the need to be safe around "Hot Spots!" Happy Trails designed custom 2D Flash animation featuring a group of kids and "Hot Spot" the cleco safety dog who teaches them "the importance of safety around power lines."
The team at Happy Trails animation rushed storyboards, assisted with creative, handled character designs, digital ink and color. The design of the characters, illustration style and color palette were kept colorful and fun for kids. Company colors were placed intentionally in scenes so that the company brand could come to the forefront along with the intended safety messages.
This award-winning spot was a terrific success, produced from start to finish within a strict two and a half-week timeline for local broadcast.
Animated informationals are animated movies that use animation to communicate visually ideas and information that are frequently challenging to understand. Animated informationals are also excellent tools for examining the specifics of challenging subject matter, such as what one might see in medical videos, educational diagrams or conceptual ideas that are better understood when aided by entertaining, captivating animated movies.
Happy Trails Animation has created original informationals to simplify messaging and entertain audiences. Informationals are frequently used for movie theaters, non-profit fundraising campaigns, educating companies about how medical products work, and numerous videos that are easier to watch and understand when explained with well illustrated drawings and animation.
We are experts at translating complex messaging into visuals that inform and entertain. We assist our clients with storyboards and rough audio so that they can get a sense of how their informational video will present. Edits and updates are made to the storyboard until the communication flows in a way that our client is pleased with.
When you are pleased with your informational video storyboard, we develop the drawings and images into professionally animated movie scenes. Our studio has a bevy of voice talent for voicing the narrative (or you may provide your own audio) and our sound editor can add appropriate sound effects and music so that your informational has energy and personality per your direction.
How often do you hear yourself say “do you see what I mean” or “I can see what you’re saying.” Everyone relates better to complicated explanations when they are presented in graphics, illustrations and interesting transitions. Informationals are a terrific way to communicate and animated movies are an ideal method for catching and holding the attention of your viewers while they learn about your product, idea, organization and services.
Informational videos can be as serious or as entertaining as befits your project. Everything we make is custom made. We are here to create long-lasting, memorable animated informationals that suit your needs and communicates what it is that you wish your audience to know and understand. animation is smooth, fascinating and clever. This invaluable visual asset can instantly capture the eye of your viewer. Animated logos could easily be nicknamed “ROI.” They perform well for industry websites, digital invitations, opening credits, video intros and outros, film festivals and social marketing campaigns.
As a member of the “older and not so cool generation” anymore (sadly), we enlisted the “coolest” and most tech savvy group we could find and that was Happy Trails Animation. The work they have done for us is easily understood and considered fun by our diverse customer groups —anywhere from a professor of Medicine to the 14 yr. old whose mom just …
A LinkedIn Article by Andy Collen When looking back at my first introduction to the digital organic world, I recall my first steps into the
The Telluride Film Festival is great — it’s good to check out for a long weekend and watch a bunch of films; I inevitably get
Happy Trails Animation
Andy Collen, Owner/Producer